Barishal Education Board has cancelled the candidacy of 18 Higher Secondary Examination students and barred them from taking the examination for the next three years over an exam fraud.

The board took the decision after finding that the Higher Mathematics paper scripts of these candidates contained identical answers.

The decision was announced through a notice published on the board’s website on Wednesday (Aug 14) stating that the candidacy of 18 HSC students who took this year’s examination had been cancelled after the disciplinary committee found evidence of irregularities and exam fraud.

The notice signed by Examination Controller of Barishal Education Board Professor Md Anowarul Azim also mentioned that these candidates would not be allowed to sit for the HSC examinations for the next three years.

Barishal Education Board Chairman Mohammad Yunus said that the decision had been taken as per Section 8 of the Public Examinations (Offences) Act, 1980.

The board has decided not to file cases against these 18 students on humanitarian grounds, he said.

A probe body would be formed to investigate how the answers were exchanged among these candidates and further measures would be taken in this regard after receiving the probe report, he added.

The board has already taken measures against Office Assistant Gobinda Chandra after finding evidence of his involvement in the matter.