Severe traffic congestion in the capital caused immense suffering for thousands of admission seekers heading to the Faculty of Science entrance examination at Dhaka University, with many arriving at exam centres after the scheduled time and others rushing in at the last moment. In some places, scenes of candidates breaking down in tears were reported.
The Faculty of Science admission test at Dhaka University was held on Saturday. According to the university’s Public Relations Office, a total of 114,114 students applied for 1,891 seats in the first-year undergraduate programmes of the Science Unit for the 2025–26 academic year. The examination took place from 3:30pm to 5pm.
Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) Health and Environment Affairs Secretary Abdullah Al Minhaj was present in the exam centre areas to assist candidates. He said, “Compared with admission tests of other units this year, the number of students arriving late today was alarmingly high.”
He told TIMES of Bangladesh, “In previous exams, incidents of late arrivals were very rare. But today, in the Curzon Hall area alone, at least a hundred students were seen arriving late. Even 30 to 40 minutes after the exam had begun, many candidates were still running into the centres.”
Providing support to candidates in front of the Faculty of Arts, Zahir Raihan, social services secretary at Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall, said, “Admission candidates come here with many dreams. Students coming from outside Dhaka take time just to locate their centres. On top of that, severe traffic congestion has made their situation even worse. I saw many students entering the centres in panic and despair.”
Meanwhile, a volunteer on duty at a help desk run by Islami Chhatra Shibir in front of the Faculty of Arts said that most candidates arrived late. He said, “There was not even time to listen to their problems. Everyone was running straight into the centres.”
Across the Dhaka University area, the Dhaka University Rover Scout Group was responsible for providing necessary guidance to admission seekers. Senior Rover Mate (Programme) Atikur Rahman said they visited multiple exam centres to brief members on their duties and that he himself remained stationed at the Curzon Hall centre.
He said, “At the Curzon Hall centre, we saw many candidates arriving 20 to 30 minutes after the exam started, some of them crying.”
Explaining the causes of the traffic congestion, he said, “There was a Shahbagh blockade programme by Inqilab Moncho today. At the same time, a pre-announced programme of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman ended around 3pm. These factors created additional congestion on the roads, preventing many students from reaching their centres on time.”
Ducsu Health and Environment Affairs Secretary Abdullah Al Minhaj and Shahid Sergeant Zahurul Haq Hall Students’ Union Social Welfare Secretary Md Jahir Raihan also pointed to the same reasons behind the traffic chaos.
Leon Ahmed, who passed his Higher Secondary Certificate from Dinajpur Government College, came to sit for the Faculty of Science admission test. He left his uncle’s house in Farmgate around 1:30 pm.
Leon Ahmed said, “I went to the Farmgate metro station and bought a ticket, but even after three consecutive trains arrived, I could not board because of the crowd. I then tried rickshaws and CNGs, but no one agreed to go because of the traffic jam. Eventually, I rode a motorbike up to New Market and then ran to the centre. I was delayed by about 20 minutes.”
He added that due to the rush and anxiety, he answered several questions incorrectly even though the questions were not difficult.
Dhaka University Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed said candidates who arrived after the scheduled time were allowed to sit for the examination.
He told TIMES of Bangladesh, “In the end, everyone who reached the centres was able to take the exam. So far, we have observed one centre, where fewer than five% of candidates entered late.”
Asked whether any special arrangements were made for latecomers, he told TIMES of Bangladesh, “As this is a competitive examination, no special facilities were provided. However, we made our best efforts to assist the students.”
In a press release issued by the Dhaka University Public Relations Office on Friday, it was stated that three additional exam centres had been set up for students sitting the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) admission test on the same day. These centres were designated in Mirpur and Farmgate for students whose Science Unit exam centres at Dhaka University had been changed.
The release also said that, at the university’s request, metro rail intervals were reduced and additional metro services were operated to ensure safe and smooth transportation of students travelling to and from MIST.
It added, “At Dhaka University’s request, the MIST authorities have postponed the second phase of the Architecture Department examination by one day, rescheduling it from the previously set time of 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on 27 December to the same time on 28 December.”
This year’s Science Unit admission test was held simultaneously at Dhaka University and at public universities in seven divisional cities across the country. Outside Dhaka, the exam centres were located at Rajshahi University, Chattogram University, Barishal University, Khulna University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet, Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh, and Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur.
