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A leaked question paper for a recruitment examination under the Department of Youth Development reached two employees of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) before being circulated with answers, the Special Response Battalion (SRB) has said.
According to preliminary findings, an NBR office assistant received an unclear photograph of the question paper at 4:43am on October 10, while a computer operator at the same organisation sent him a clearer image around 6:15am.
The office assistant subsequently prepared answers and shared them with the computer operator and another NBR colleague.
The question paper and answers were then distributed among other members of the alleged syndicate and prospective candidates, investigators said.
Seven people, including five government employees, have been arrested in connection with the leak.
The suspects include three NBR employees, a staff member of the Department of Environment, an office assistant at the Ministry of Defence and two other alleged members of the network.
SRB-3 Commander Lieutenant Colonel Faizul Arefin disclosed the findings at a press conference in Dhaka on Friday.
Investigators said the syndicate allegedly sold leaked question papers and answers for Tk 800,000 to Tk 1 million per candidate.
The group reportedly used fake identities on WhatsApp to communicate and conduct transactions.
The screening test for 242 assistant youth development officer posts was scheduled for October 10, with around 319,000 candidates applying.
Authorities postponed the examination after confirming the leak shortly before it was due to begin.
The Department of Youth Development filed a case with Motijheel Police Station on October 11, and the SRB subsequently launched an investigation.
The original source of the leaked question paper has yet to be identified. Investigators are examining the suspects’ mobile phone records and other evidence to determine how the paper was obtained and whether anyone else was involved.
