State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj spoke to reporters after visiting the primary scholarship examination center at the King Faisal Institute in the capital's Mohammadpur today. Photo: Video Screenshot

DHAKA, Apr 17, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj today said private school students face no discrimination in the primary scholarship examinations.

He made the remark while talking to reporters after visiting
a primary scholarship examination centre at Badshah Faisal Institute in the city’s Mohammadpur area this morning.

Bobby Hajjaj said no discrimination is being shown to private school students in the scholarship examinations, as per the proportional rate.

One in eight students from government schools is getting the opportunity to sit the scholarship examinations, while one in five students from private schools, he said.

The state minister said private school students are also getting the same opportunities in line with the proportional distribution of scholarships.

According to data from the Directorate of Primary Education, a total of 640,000 candidates are appearing in the scholarship examination this year. Of them, 550,000 are from government schools and 90,000 from private institutions. The total number of scholarships is 82,500, including 66,000 for government school students and 16,500 for private school students.

Bobby Hajjaj said he visited the centre to observe how the examination process is being conducted.

Information received from various centres across the country shows that students are able to sit the examinations smoothly in a conducive environment, he said.

He added that necessary instructions have been given to district and upazila education officers to ensure a fair environment at every centre.

Replying to a question, he said the government will update the policy of the primary scholarship examinations after consulting all stakeholders.

“The amount of scholarship money and the number of beneficiaries will be reviewed afresh,” he said.

“We will formulate the policy by ensuring maximum equity,” Bobby Hajjaj added.

Later, he visited Bengali Medium High School Centre and Mohammadpur Government Primary School.

Primary and Mass Education Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana and Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education Abu Noor Md Shamsuzzaman, among others, were present.