The percentage was 59.16 in 2005, 47.74 in 2004, 38.43 in 2003, 27.09 in 2002, 28.41 in 2001 and 37.05 in 2000. Last year too saw a leap in the pass rate as it shot up to 59.16 from 47.74 in 2004.

As many as 4,12,024 students--2, 31,055 boys and 1,80,969 girls--sat this year's exams and 2,63,358 of them--1, 48,409 boys and 1,14,949 girls--passed.

Some 9,450 examinees have secured the highest Grade Point Average (GPA)-5 while the number was 5,509 last year and 3,036 in 2004. Of them, 4,837 are from Dhaka Board, 1,006 from Chittagong Board, 2,035 from Rajshahi Board, 732 from Jessore Board, 447 from Comilla Board, 154 from Sylhet Board and 239 from Barisal Board.

Pass percentages for boys and girls are 64.23 and 63.52 against 60.13 and 57.84 of last year. The HSC results of the seven boards were published yesterday under the grading system introduced in 2003.

Results of the Alim examinations under Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board and HSC (vocational), business management, and diploma-in-commerce examinations under Bangladesh Technical Education Board were also published yesterday--all under the grading system.

The number of Alim examinees getting GPA-5 this year is 412 while only two from technical board have secured GPA-5.

Students from business studies and commerce have marked a significant progress as 1,884 secured GPA-5 against 684 of last year. From humanities, 619 students have secured GPA-5 this year against 297 last year.

Education Minister Osman Farruk handed over the result sheets to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at her office. State Minister for Education ANM Ehsanul Huq Milon, Education Secretary M Momtajul Islam and the heads of the education boards were present.

The prime minister expressed satisfaction over results this year compared to past few years, increase in the number of students getting GPA-5, falling number of expulsions for adopting unfair means, and also over considerable decrease in the incidents of cheating in the public examinations.

Dhaka Board this year fetched the highest pass percentage of 74.76 and Jessore Board the lowest of 54.40. Rajshahi Board last year obtained the highest pass percentage of 65.93 and Sylhet Board the lowest 44.40.

In Dhaka Board, 98,691 of the 1,32,091 examinees passed the exams with the pass percentage of 74.76. As many as 65,511 students took the exams under Chittagong Board and 35,636 among them passed making for a percentage of 54.40.

Among the 96,288 candidates under Rajshahi Board, 54,657 came out successful with a pass percentage of 56.76 against 65.93 of last year. Under Jessore Board, 65,511 students appeared in the exams and 35,636 passed. The pass percentage is 54.40 against last year's 63.70.

Under Comilla Board, 27,268 examinees out of 42,785 passed with a success rate of 63.73 percent against 60.06 last year. Barisal Board had 25,319 candidates and 15,572 of them passed. The pass percentage is 61.50 against 62.48 last year.

Under Sylhet Board, 18,667 students sat the examinations and 12,218 came out successful with the pass percentage of 65.45 against last year's 44.40.

The pass percentage for Alim examinees is 75.23 against 64.74 last year and for HSC (Vocational) examinees, it is 69.74 against 30.98 last year.