Gender Error in Barisal Board HSC Registration Cards: 38,000 Students Affected

This massive error, affecting nearly half of the total registered candidates for the 2026 session, has caused widespread anxiety among students and parents across the division’s six districts. The issue came to light as the board began distributing registration cards to colleges last week, and reports indicate that out of the 81,831 total examinees registered this year, approximately 37,944 male students found the gender field printed as "Female" or "Mahila."

Barisal Board Chairman Professor Md. Yunus Ali Siddiqui and Controller of Examinations Professor G.M. Shahidul Islam have attributed the mistake to a computer program setting and the carelessness of a specific computer operator. The board authorities have already issued a show-cause notice to the responsible staff member and have assured the public that the error is being corrected at no cost to the students. To streamline the process, colleges have been instructed to collect the faulty cards and submit them for re-printing, meaning students do not need to visit the board offices personally.

With the HSC exams tentatively scheduled to begin in June 2026, the board has promised to complete all corrections and redistribute the valid cards well before the start date. The Board Controller emphasized that while the scale of the mistake is large, it will not hinder any student's ability to sit for the exams. As of early March 2026, hundreds of updated cards are being processed daily to resolve the confusion and restore confidence in the examination process.