First Persian language proficiency test held in Bangladesh

The first Standard Persian Language Proficiency Test (SAMFA) took place in Bangladesh on Thursday. It was the first time the test had been held outside Iran.

The exam took place at the Dhaka University arts building under the supervision of the university’s Persian language and literature department. 

Twenty-eight students from Dhaka, Rajshahi and Chittagong University took part in the test. Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Reza Nafar exchanged greetings with the students before the examination.

“My best wishes for those who came here for this examination on Persian language. I hope you will be the skilled teachers of Persian language,” he said.

Nafar said Persian language had been practiced for almost 700 years in the subcontinent. Many Persian words have entered into Bengali. 

Cultural Councilor of Iranian Cultural Centre Hossaini Fayek, Chairman of Persian Language and Literature Department of Dhaka University Abul Kalam Sarkar, Professor Mohammad Arif Billah and other teachers of the department were present during the exam.

Similar to IELTS (English), DILF/DELF/DALF (French), and ZD (German) tests, SAMFA is held as two types of ‘General’ and ‘Academic’ that measures the candidates’ Persian language speaking, listening, reading and writing proficiency.

Moreover, SAMFA academic test is taken in four categories, of ‘Basic Science and Engineering’, ‘Human Sciences’, ‘Medical Sciences’ and ‘Social Sciences’, where non-Iranian applicants take the exam according to their fields of study.

According to regulations of the MSRT, passing this exam is compulsory for all non-Iranians who want to study at Iranian universities. From September 2018, passing the SAMFA test is one of the main conditions of the students’ admission to universities. 

Moreover, people who want to reside, work, undertake business, and establish local and international firms in Iran, also need to pass this test.

Source: unb