A total of 14,988 candidates were absent on the first day of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations today while 27 students were expelled for resorting to unfair means.

This year's number of absent students on the first day is higher than the last year as 13,718 students were absent in 2018. The number of expelled students, however, decreased significantly this year from last year’s 89.

A total of 13, 51,505 examinees from 9,081 educational institutions are appearing in the exams.

The HSC examinees sat for the Bangla (compulsory) first paper at 10:00am while the examinees under Madrassa Education Board took Quran Mazid.

The highest number of absentees was from the Dhaka Board with 3,040 while Barisal Board had the lowest figure with 803, according to the data of Bangladesh Inter-Board Co-ordination Sub-Committee.

Among the expelled students, 22 were from the technical board while one each from Dhaka, Cumilla, Jashore, Chattogram and madrassa board.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Dipu Moni assured that the exams will be held without any question leakage. She also urged all not to pay heed to any kind of rumours of question leak.

Dipu Moni and Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel visited the examination centre at Siddheswari Girls College in the city.

The written examinations will continue till May 11 while the practical examinations will be held from May 12 to May 21.