The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations scheduled for April 1 have been postponed due to fears over spread of coronavirus. 

Chairman of Dhaka Education Board, Ziaul Haque, confirmed the matter to The Daily Star. 

Ziaul Haque, who is also the head of the inter-board coordination committee, said the new routine will be published soon.

Education Ministry's Senior Information Officer Abul Khair said the next date for the exams will be announced on the first week of April.

The government on March 16, closed all educational institutions and coaching centres across Bangladesh till March 31.

A total of 27 people have been infected with coronavirus in Bangladesh. Of them, two have died and five of the infected people have recovered.

About 11 to 13 lakh students are expected to sit for the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations. Exams were expected to be held at over 9,000 educational institutions under 10 education boards—eight general, one madrassa and a technical education board.