Four Arrested for Using Proxies in Public Administration Ministry Job Exam; Remand Hearing Set
Police have applied for a seven-day remand for four individuals arrested on charges of securing positions as office assistants at the Ministry of Public Administration by having proxy candidates take their oral examinations. The Shahbagh Police Station's investigation officer, Abdul Gaffar Himel, filed the request on Tuesday. The Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, presided over by Judge Jewel Rana, has scheduled a hearing for Thursday with the defendants present. The four arrested individuals have been identified as Md. A. Alim from Gopalpur Upazila, Tangail; Md. Ali Haider from Chouhali Upazila, Sirajganj; Md. Russel Rana Liton from Nageshwari Upazila, Kurigram; and Md. Masud Fakir from Sreepur Upazila, Gazipur. According to case documents, the four were apprehended near the Secretariat around 5:45 PM last Sunday and handed over to Shahbagh police. An administrative officer from the Ministry of Public Administration, HM Arifur Rahman, filed a fraud case at Shahbagh Police Station regarding the incident. The case details indicate that Md. A. Alim's oral exam was on June 24, while Md. Ali Haider and Russel Rana Liton were tested on June 25, and Md. Masud Fakir on June 28, all scheduled for 2 PM. Photographs of all candidates, along with their admit cards, were taken during the oral examinations. On July 6, the ministry finalized the selection of 20 individuals for the office assistant positions and issued their appointment letters the same day. The selected candidates were instructed to report to room 1802 in the Secretariat's Building 1 on July 19 at 10 AM to submit their joining letters to the Joint Secretary (Administration Branch). Upon their arrival, discrepancies were noted between their appearance and the photographs taken during the oral exams. When questioned, the individuals confessed that others had appeared for their oral exams on their behalf and provided written statements admitting their guilt. The Ministry of Public Administration had published recruitment notices for the positions of stenographer-cum-computer operator and office assistant on May 5. A total of 2,784 applied for the stenographer role and 23,709 for the office assistant position. The written exam for office assistants was held on June 19, with 9,318 candidates participating, from whom 107 were selected for the oral examination.
This incident highlights potential vulnerabilities in public sector recruitment processes, particularly concerning identity verification during examinations. The use of proxy candidates suggests a systemic issue rather than isolated fraud, possibly driven by intense competition for government jobs and the perceived value of these positions. The Ministry of Public Administration's reliance on photographic evidence from oral exams, coupled with a delayed discovery of the impersonation during the joining process, indicates a need for more robust pre-employment screening and verification protocols. Future recruitment strategies might benefit from integrating biometric data or enhanced background checks to mitigate such risks and ensure merit-based selection, thereby reinforcing public trust in governmental institutions.
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