In Chattogram's Chandgaon, two students sat for this year's Higher Secondary Certificate exams from Meron Sun College. Both failed.

One retook the exam after failing last year but again failed English. The other failed in two subjects, including English.

"The student who failed two subjects is married and has a child. She rarely attended classes. The other was also irregular," said Vice-Principal Rajesh Kanti Pal.

He said the college faces an acute teacher shortage and a steep decline in enrolment since admissions went fully online.

At Chattogram Zilla College, two irregular students appeared -- both failed English for the third year in a row. The college's Mirzapul address was found occupied by another institution.

"Admissions have been suspended for two years. The college has effectively shut down," said Nandita Chowdhury, a lecturer.

Chattogram board is just one example of a nationwide crisis. Across Bangladesh, 202 colleges had zero pass rates this year -- a threefold jump from 65 last year.

Dinajpur board topped the list with 43 such colleges, followed by 35 in Rajshahi, 34 in Dhaka, 15 in Mymensingh, and smaller clusters in Cumilla, Sylhet, and Barishal. Another 37 technical and 22 madrasa institutions also saw all examinees fail.

The failures reflect a system crippled by teacher shortages, weak supervision, and neglect -- especially in non-MPO colleges where teachers go unpaid and classes often do not take place.

The same pattern -- empty classrooms, unpaid teachers, and students entering exams poorly prepared -- was found in colleges across regions.

Absence of teachers is a common scenario in nearly all zero-pass colleges.

At Narayanganj's Naba Kisholoy High School and Girls' College, all 25 examinees failed despite a 100 percent pass rate in 2022.

"We have no English teacher at the higher secondary level. Our ICT teacher was also unable to conduct classes," said Acting Principal Ayesha Akter.

District Education Officer Md Atikur Rahman called it an administrative failure. "The college did not recruit teachers for years," he said.

In Mymensingh's Trishal Ideal College, most classes are taken by part-timers. "We can't pay competitive salaries, so teachers leave frequently," said Principal Abdul Quaiyum.

At Kurigram's Rashed Khan Menon College, teachers have not received salaries in seven years. "Last year one of our seven students passed. We expected at least a few this time," said Principal Fakhrul Islam.

At Jashore's Abhaynagar Sridharpur Union College, all seven examinees failed. "There's no English teacher here. Outsiders were hired, but we barely had classes," said student Mursalin Molla.

Echoing her, Principal Kamal Hossain admitted, "None of our teachers get paid."

Most of the failing colleges are non-MPO institutions where teachers receive no government salary support. Dinajpur's 43 and Mymensingh's 15 zero-pass colleges fall in this category.

These colleges survive on small tuition fees, often collected irregularly, leaving them unable to retain teachers or maintain academic activities.

Rangpur Divisional Deputy Director Rokhsana Begum said, "These colleges have approval but are not under MPO. District and upazila education officers have been asked to explain their performance."

At Bakhra Hajirbag Ideal Girls' College in Jashore, all seven students failed. "Our teachers don't get paid regularly, so they don't take classes," said student Mosammat Tabassum.

Principal Md Moniruzzaman also admitted the issue.

Across rural and low-income areas, classrooms often empty out as early marriage and migration push students away from education.

"Most boys plan to go abroad, while many girls are married off," said Abdul Karim, principal of Shaitsal Adarsha School and College in Cumilla.

At Lalmai's Suruj Memorial School and College, both female examinees got married during the session, while in Narayanganj's Naba Kisholoy College, 13 of 25 examinees were married.

Similar cases were reported at Bakhra Hajirbag Ideal Girls' College in Jashore and Rashed Khan Menon College in Kurigram.

Principals said centralised online admission has worsened enrolment.

Previously, they could attract students through local outreach. Now, most students choose reputed city institutions, leaving rural campuses deserted.

"Earlier we could enrol students through local outreach. Now very few select our college online," said Meron Sun's vice-principal.

Several colleges are in a similar state. Chattogram Zilla College had two irregular examinees, Chakaria Commerce College in Cox's Bazar had two, and Abhaynagar Sridharpur Union College in Jashore had seven — all failed.

Rajshahi Board Chairman Prof ANM Mofakhkharul Islam said some colleges had only one or two examinees. "It raises doubts about whether the college functions at all," he said.

Many students, officials said, still expect leniency like during the pandemic years, when exams were relaxed and auto-passes were given.

"Many spent time demanding exam postponement instead of studying," said Prof Mofakhkharul.

Board Exam Controller Prof Ariful Islam added, "Some students still think they might get an auto pass like in 2020 and neglect their studies, particularly during movements."

Jashore District Education Officer Mahfuzul Hossain said, "Many students spent days on streets even after July uprising, instead of in classrooms."

Education boards usually act only after results are out, issuing show-cause notices that rarely lead to action.

"Some colleges no longer conduct classes — we only find out about them after results," said a Dhaka Board official.

Dhaka Board Chairman Khondoker Ehsanul Kabir, who also heads the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee, said, "All boards have been asked to prepare reports on zero-pass institutions. We hope to receive data within 10 days and accordingly take steps."

Asked why earlier actions brought no visible change, he declined to comment on the past. "There is no record in board data showing that any visible action was taken in previous years," Prof Kabir added.

[Our correspondents from Rajshahi, Lalmonirhat, Mymensingh, Cumilla, Sylhet, Jashore, Narayanganj, and Chattogram contributed to this report]