#17 gang members arrested, 14 absconding, bank accounts of 17 frozen
#Question leak of 30 recruitment exams including BCS, latest railway exam
# PSC chairman says question leak is 'very difficult' as set is determined through lottery
We have to find out during whose tenure the question has been leaked, and whose were appointed: Barrister Suman
Although the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) was bound by the unwavering pillars of the faith of the country people even when there was a rise of corrupt people in every sector of the country. Where they believed that there was no corruption. But this time, three senior officials and a group of corrupt officials and employees, including the driver of the former PSC chairman, have thrashed their faith.
Where the people had a deep belief that there is no corruption in the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination, but in the case of driver Abed Ali, it has now been proved that the PSC question paper could not be leaked in a single effort, but the PSC question could be leaked collectively.
Meanwhile, the concerned people are also talking about finding out which level of PSC officials are involved in this. Not only that, the question arises, did Abed Ali leak or sell the questions of any BCS examination, preliminary or written examination? Not only BCS, many other job exam questions have been leaked by his circle people. How many of those to whom they have sold the question have been employed and if any of them is now in a big position in the administration, their names are also should be come to light, demand rise from various quarters.
According to sources, the gang has made four to five cadres in the 33rd and 34th BCS on the leak question papers. Non-cadres have also made more than one. The gang, which leaked questions in 30 recruitment examinations including BCS in the last decade, has also recruited 20 to 25 senior staff nurses. The gang leaked the question paper in the recruitment test for the post of deputy engineer of the railway.
According to the sources, police arrested 17 members of the gang, including Abed Ali and his son, after the information of this PSC question leak came to light. Seven members of the gang, including Abed Ali, confessed to their responsibility when they were produced before the court yesterday.
In the confession, they confessed that on July 5, an exam of Bangladesh Railway for Sub-Assistant Engineer (Non-Cadre) post under BPSC was held where Abed and huge gang leaked the question papers in exchange of huge money.
During primary interrogation, the accused confessed that they were involved in leaking question papers of various grades of recruitment examinations including BCS and PSC before the scheduled time in exchange for money.
PSC Deputy Directors Abu Zafar and Jahangir Alam, Assistant Director Alamgir Kabir and 10 others were sent to jail after recording their statements. On the other hand, Bangladesh Bank has frozen the bank accounts of 17 people involved in question leaks on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, many people think that the confidence among the common people about the PSC and BCS examinations as an institution has been reduced due to question leaks. Questions are being raised from various quarters, whether the PSC authorities will investigate the whole matter by commissioning an inquiry? Some test questions have been leaked; where did it come from; people at some level of the organization are involved in this; who has become the owner of how much money by leaking the question and who has become a BCS cadre by examining the leaked question?
PSC Chairman Sohrab Hossain could not be reached for comment on whether he would take steps to form a commission to protect his image. However, while talking to reporters at the work commission building yesterday, he claimed that it is 'very difficult' to leak questions from the PSC. The set of question papers is determined by lottery. No one can say which set will come in the lottery except Allah. In that case, the question is very difficult. However, it cannot be said with 100 percent certainty that the question leak did not or cannot happen.
He said that there is very little chance of leakage in the process in which question papers are sent at the final stage. Still, the matter is being investigated. If anyone is found involved, maximum action will be taken. The decision will be taken after talking to lawyers if the questions leaked on July 5 are proved to be the questions of the railway examination.
He also candidly admitted that the cancellation was complicated because it had been a long time.
Supreme Court lawyer and MP Barrister Sumon also told reporters at the court premises yesterday that it has to be found out during whose tenure the question paper was leaked. If no action is taken against those involved in the incident, we will go to the High Court. Those who entered the administration through question leaks should be identified and brought under the law. Students are protesting for quota across the country. But do they know that the biggest quota? It is 'thief quota', 'corruption quota'. If measure will not be taken, I will go to the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice. A country cannot run like this.
According to CID sources, 14 people, including former assistant director Nikhil Chandra Roy, are absconding. The fugitive convicts are Shariful Islam Bhuiyan, Dipak Banik, Khorshed Alam Khokon, Kazi Mohammad Sumon, AKM Golam Parvez, Mehedi Hasan Khan, Golam Hamidur Rahman, M Mizanur Rahman, Atiqul Islam, ATM Mustafa, Mahfuz Kalu, Aslam and Kaushik Debnath.
Besides, 60 others were made unidentified accused in the case. Police filed the case with Paltan Police Station on Monday. The CID of police arrested 17 people, including Syed Abed Ali, the driver of the former PSC chairman, in the case. Among them is PSC deputy director, assistant director and BCL leader Syed Sohanur Rahman Siam, son of Abed. They were arrested in raids in different parts of the country on Sunday.
PSC suspends five officials on question leaks
Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) has suspended five officers and employees, arrested on charges of leaking question papers for the recruitment examinations of various government jobs, including the BCS. The suspension orders were outlined in five separate notifications, issued by the PSC yesterday.
The suspended are- Deputy Directors Md Abu Zafor and Jahangir Alam, Assistant Director Md Alamgir Kabir and PSC employee Dispatch Rider Khalilur Rahman and Office Assistant Sajedul Islam.
The PSC Chairman signed these notifications, following the President’s directive. They will get a subsistence allowance as per the rules, reads the notification.
Seven people, including former PSC's driver Syed Abed Ali, gave confessional statements under Section 164 in the case filed on charge of leaking question papers of various recruitment examinations.
Apart from this, the court ordered to send 10 people including Syed Abed Ali's son to jail. They were arrested during ongoing raids for allegedly leaking question papers of 30 recruitment exams over the last 12 years.
The case was filed by the CID with Paltan police station on Monday night under BPSC Act. In the case, the names of 31 people have been mentioned and more than 50 unknown people have been made accused.
A private television channel aired an investigation report on Sunday evening which uncovered the scandal involving leaked question papers for 30 recruitment exams, including the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS).
According to the report, a syndicate of six officials and employees of the PSC had been involved in leaking exam questions for a long time.
ZH