Dhaka, March 25 (IANS) Bangladesh Education Minister Dipu Moni on Monday announced that the government will temporarily shut coaching centres from April ahead of the Higher Secondary Education (HSC) exams to prevent question paper leaks.

According to the Minister, the closure will be applicable from April 1 and continue for 36 days, reports the Daily Star newspaper.

There are a total of 2,579 centres in the country.

The HSC exams will start across Bangladesh on April 1 and end on May 6.

A total of 1,138,550 students will participate in this year's examinations.

--IANS ksk/bc/bg