Over 1,000 examinees were expelled for copying on the first day of the HSC examinations last year.

About 6.29 lakh examinees, including those doing Alim under Madrassah Education Board, HSC vocational and business administration under Technical Education Board, are appearing at the examinations this year. The number is about 40,000 less than that of last year.

Yesterday, 34 examinees were expelled for adopting unfair means at different centres under Dhaka board, 91 under Rajshahi board, 16 under Chittagong board, 11 under Comilla board, 12 under Barisal board and some 15 under Jessore board. Report of expulsion of only one examinee under Sylhet board was received till the writing of this report.

Under Dhaka board, 15 examinees were expelled in Jamalpur, five in Gopalganj, three each in Netrokona and Shariatpur, two in Madaripur and one each in Manikgonj, Narsingdi, Mymensingh, Tangail, Sherpur and Rajbari

Under Rajshahi board, 13 examinees were expelled in Gaibandha, 35 in Kurigram, one in Thakurgaon, 10 in Naogaon, six in Sirajganj, one in Joypurhut, 12 in Rajshahi, 11 in Rangpur, 13 in Nilphamari, one in Panchagarh, one in Thakurgaon and one in Lalmonirhat.

Eighy-eight examinees were expelled under Madrassah board.

Meanwhile, the education ministry has taken several steps to curb cheating in the examinations that began with English first paper. The steps include summary trial of offender, imposition of fine, restriction on movement of people at the examination centres and secret video recording.

State Minster for Education ANM Ehsanul Haq Milon visited some examination centres yesterday.