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Government Ends Practice of Inflating Pass Rates and GPA-5 Scores: Mahdi Amin

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  Government Ends Practice of Inflating Pass Rates and GPA-5 Scores: Mahdi Amin The government has moved away from the long-standing practice of artificially increasing examination pass rates and the number of GPA-5 achievers, Prime Minister's Adviser for Education and Primary and Mass Education Mahdi Amin said today. He said the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examination results now reflect a more transparent, objective and merit-based assessment of students. Mahdi Amin also announced that students who failed in one or two subjects would be given an opportunity to retake the examinations within a month. A comprehensive answer-script re-evaluation system, similar to the one used in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations, has also been introduced. He made the remarks at a press conference held at the Ministry of Education's conference room at the Secretariat. Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon formally announ...
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Bangladesh Parliamentary Committee Questions Consulate Over Execution of Two Nationals in Saudi Arabia

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Bangladesh Parliamentary Committee Questions Consulate Over Execution of Two Nationals in Saudi Arabia

A parliamentary committee has sought an explanation over possible lapses by Bangladesh's consulate in Jeddah after two Bangladeshi nationals were executed in Mecca. The committee has also called for stronger measures to prevent abuse of female migrant workers in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked the ministry to investigate whether negligence by the Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah contributed to the failure to identify the cases of the two nationals before their executions.

The committee also wants to know what action will be taken if any negligence is established.

The issue was discussed at a committee meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Sunday afternoon.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia had shared a list of approximately 2,500 prisoners with Bangladesh 14 days before the executions. The names of the two Bangladeshi nationals appeared on the list, but their cases were not properly identified.

Following the meeting, committee chairperson Joharat Adib Chowdhury told Prothom Alo that members had questioned why the consulate had not learned about the executions earlier and whether any lapse had occurred in the process.

The committee also sought an explanation for why Saudi Arabia had not notified Bangladesh in advance, despite the close relations between the two countries.

“The incident indicates that there was a weakness somewhere in the overall process,” Chowdhury said.

Referring to the list exchanged before the executions, she added that officials had acknowledged that the relevant report had not been identified appropriately.

Ministry Seeks Answers From Saudi Arabia

The Foreign Affairs Ministry informed the committee that officials had assessed the prisoners' cases based on the categories under which their names appeared on the list. They had assumed the cases could involve prison sentences ranging from six months to 15 years and had not realised that the proceedings could result in death sentences.

The ministry has sent several questions to Saudi Arabia seeking clarification. The parliamentary committee has asked to be informed of the responses once they are received.

It has also directed the ministry to submit a report detailing whether the consulate was negligent, what action has been taken if any negligence is established, and what steps are being introduced to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Abuse of Female Migrant Workers Raises Concern

The committee also discussed reports of abuse involving Bangladeshi female migrant workers in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the meeting that approximately 1–2 percent of Bangladeshi female workers in Saudi Arabia experience abuse.

According to information presented to the committee, around 169,000 Bangladeshi female workers are currently employed in Saudi Arabia. Officials ask workers about their circumstances when they visit to collect their passports, while surveys are also conducted through third-party organisations.

The ministry reported that 1,364 female domestic workers had been rescued and safely repatriated to Bangladesh.

Chowdhury said the percentage reported by the ministry might appear small, but the actual number of affected workers remained a serious concern.

“When you hear 1–2 per cent, it may sound like a small figure. But 1,364 cases are not acceptable,” she said.

The committee has instructed the ministry to take the necessary measures to reduce such incidents to zero.

In a press release issued after the meeting, the Parliament Secretariat said the committee had recommended steps to strengthen the protection of Bangladeshi female migrant workers employed in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries.

The meeting was chaired by Joharat Adib Chowdhury and attended by committee members ABM Mosharraf Hossain, SK Azizul Bari, Saeed Al Noman, Humam Quader Chowdhury and Sanjida Islam.

Foreign Affairs State Minister Humaiun Kobir also attended the meeting at the committee's special invitation.

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