Of 61,961 examinees, 35,903 came out successful in the board this year with a percentage of 57.94, a slide from the year 2006 (63.87 percent).

Of them, 3,313 students secured GPA-5 -- 2,509 from science group, 760 from business studies and 44 from humanities group.

Of the renowned colleges, Chittagong College, Haji Md Mohsin College and City College have started distribution of forms from July 4.

Many students with GPA-5 from science group face uncertainty as they may not get the opportunity to study in their desired colleges.

Sources said the dreams of around 1,159 GPA-5 achievers from science group are certain to be shattered as they will not have chance to study in any of the three colleges for lack of seats. These colleges have only 1,350 seats for science students.

The other factor that will frustrate many urban talents this year is the quota system to accommodate the students from rural areas. As per the new system, at least 10 per cent of the total seats in city colleges will be reserved for them.

According to the new system the colleges will select the students who got A+ in all subjects and then A+ in English, Higher Maths, Physics or Chemistry, board sources said.

Later, the college authorities will go for age-based selection which will certainly benefit the elderly students like previous year, sources added.

Hasan Ferdous Chowdhury, a GPA-5 achiever from Muslim High School, said it is very frustrating that a student will not have the opportunity to study at his desired college just for his age though he or she fulfils all requirements.

"We cannot support such a system where merit of a student is not judged properly," said Hasan.

Prof Iftekhar Ahmed Khan, principal of Chittagong College, however, said age-based selection is the last option after selecting the students on the basis of SSC results.

He said they will arrange a quiz of 10 marks in case of more students with same ages.

Abu Zafar, a guardian, said the college authorities can arrange admission tests in this situation.

Prof Md Nurul Huda Sikder, principal of Haji Mohsin College, said the present system of admission is better for fair selection as there is no scope for nepotism or corruption in this system.

Rahenara Begum, former deputy director of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Department, said lack of enough government colleges with congenial environment for quality education forces the students to fight for admission in few colleges where seats are limited.

She stressed the need for opening different shifts, establishing more government colleges as well as improving atmosphere for quality education in private colleges to meet the present demand.