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Five government employees were among seven people arrested over the question paper leak of the Department of Youth Development’s recruitment examination, with the suspects allegedly charging candidates Tk 800,000 to Tk 2 million for government jobs.
The suspects are believed to have been involved in recruitment fraud and question paper leaks for three to four years, according to the SRB.
Lieutenant Colonel Faizul Arefin, artillery commander of SRB-3, disclosed the information at a press conference at the SRB Media Centre in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, on Friday.
The arrested suspects are Rubel Islam, 33, a data entry operator at the Department of Environment; Md Mofizul Islam, 23; Md Hasinur Rahman Sujon, 32; SM Imdadul Islam, 35, a computer operator at the National Board of Revenue (NBR); Asadul Islam, 33, an office assistant at the Ministry of Defence; Nur Mohammad, 30, an office assistant at the NBR; and Jahangir, 38, a computer operator at the NBR.
The recruitment examination for 242 posts of assistant youth development officer was scheduled for October 10. A total of 319,000 candidates applied for the posts.
The examination was scheduled to begin at 11:00 am, but the authorities postponed it shortly before the start after confirming the question paper leak around 10:00 am. The Department of Youth Development filed a case with Motijheel Police Station on October 11.
SRB intelligence teams conducted raids at different locations in the capital on October 14, 15 and 16, arresting the seven suspects. Initial questioning and analysis of their mobile phones helped investigators trace the possible source of the question paper and the channels through which it was distributed.
According to Lt Col Arefin, the suspects used fake identities on WhatsApp to carry out their activities.
Investigators found that Nur Mohammad received an unclear photograph of the question paper from an unidentified source in the early hours of the examination day. Jahangir later sent him a clearer image at 6:15 am. Nur then prepared answers and sent them to Jahangir and Imdadul.
The answers and question paper were subsequently circulated among candidates linked to the group and its distributors, including Asadul, Rubel, Mofizul and Sujon, investigators said.
Asked whether Nur Mohammad was the ringleader, Lt Col Arefin said he appeared to be at the second level of the network, suggesting that someone else was above him. The investigation is continuing to identify the person at the top of the chain, he added.
The officer said the suspects allegedly charged Tk 800,000 to Tk 1 million from candidates seeking third-class government jobs and Tk 1.5 million to Tk 2 million from those seeking second-class posts.
They allegedly used fake admit cards and appointment letters to deceive candidates and kept their certificates and other documents as security. Payments were arranged through bank cheques and agreements written on non-judicial stamp papers, while communication with candidates took place mainly through WhatsApp.
Investigators seized 116 Tk 100 stamp papers, four Tk 50 stamp papers, one set of questions, 19 pages of admit cards, 10 certificates, 48 pages of bank cheques, one bank cheque, eight mobile phones, 15 certificates of different categories, six national identity cards and Tk 4,000 in cash.
The suspects have been brought under legal action, Lt Col Arefin said, adding that any government officials found involved in the leak would also face action.
