Police officers in protective vests stood among crowds of angry jobseekers on Dhaka's streets on Saturday after a government recruitment examination was abruptly postponed, reportedly over a question paper leak.

The examination for the post of Assistant Upazila Youth Development Officer under the Department of Youth Development was called off around 11 am, just moments before it was scheduled to begin.

The decision triggered protests at examination centers before candidates moved onto major roads, blocking Manik Mia Avenue and Satmasjid Road.

Groups of police officers gathered near the protesters as crowds filled sections of the street. Some officers carried megaphones while standing face-to-face with demonstrators.

For many candidates, the cancellation came after months of preparation and travel from outside Dhaka.

Saiful Islam, an examinee who joined the protest, accused the government of repeatedly failing to prevent question paper leaks in public recruitment examinations.

"We prepare for months, and then this happens," Saiful told Daily Waadaa. "This can't go on."

He said the repeated failure to ensure fair examinations was taking a toll on jobseekers.

According to Prothom Alo, the road blockades began around 11:15 am on Satmasjid Road and 11:30 am on Manik Mia Avenue.

At Siddheswari Girls' College, one of the examination centers, a candidate said the cancellation was announced barely a minute before the examination was due to begin.

The candidate, who had traveled from Sylhet, said he had heard that the question papers had been leaked.

Another examinee said teachers informed candidates about the alleged leak as they were preparing to distribute the question papers.

The sudden postponement left candidates questioning why the authorities had waited until the last moment to cancel the examination.