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Jatiya Jubo Shakti, the youth wing of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has demanded the resignation of State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque over allegations of a question paper leak in a recruitment examination, along with an independent investigation and punishment for those responsible.
The organisation announced a five-point set of demands during a demonstration at the headquarters of the Department of Youth Development in Motijheel, Dhaka, on Sunday. The protest followed the postponement of the recruitment examination for assistant upazila youth development officers amid allegations that the question paper had been leaked.
Rifat Rashid, organisational secretary of Jatiya Jubo Shakti, said information about the alleged leak had raised suspicions that irregularities in the recruitment process could extend beyond the incident.
“We suspect there may have been a dispute over the sharing of benefits this time. That may be why someone disclosed the question paper leak. Otherwise, the incident might not have come to light,” he said, alleging possible wrongdoing without presenting evidence to establish the claim.
Rashid said 319,000 candidates had applied for 242 posts, highlighting the intense competition for government jobs. He alleged that recruitment could be influenced by quotas, manipulation of viva voce marks and political connections rather than merit.
“Do not trample on the aspirations of young people or play games with their future,” he said, urging the authorities to protect young people’s employment prospects and their right to fair treatment.
Jatiya Jubo Shakti General Secretary Engineer Farhad Sohel accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government of attempting to politicise state institutions and weaken their effectiveness. He also criticised what he described as a failure to fulfil the government’s employment commitments.
Sohel alleged that instead of creating the promised jobs, opportunities were being made available to people involved in extortion and corruption. He questioned the basis of the state minister’s appointment and called for action against alleged recruitment syndicates and harassment of jobseekers in the name of police verification.
Jatiya Jubo Shakti President Advocate Tariqul Islam said the government had yet to demonstrate an effective plan to create employment for young people.
He alleged that training programmes under the Department of Youth Development had not been adequately revitalised since the government took office and that political identity was becoming a factor in access to jobs and employment opportunities.
Islam also questioned why effective action had not been taken before the examination, although information about the alleged leak had emerged on the eve of the test. He said the incident had raised concerns about transparency in public recruitment and reiterated his demand for the state minister’s resignation.
The five demands announced at the demonstration are:
1. Resignation of State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque.
2. Formation of an independent and impartial committee to investigate the alleged question paper leak, and the arrest and punishment of those found responsible.
3. An end to politicisation, nepotism and irregularities in recruitment, with appointments made on merit.
4. An end to harassment in the name of verification and manipulation of viva voce marks.
5. Publication of a specific government action plan for creating jobs for unemployed young people and advancing youth development.
The recruitment examination for 242 assistant upazila youth development officer posts was postponed on October 10 following allegations that the question paper had circulated on social media before the scheduled test. The government has formed a five-member committee to investigate the allegations.
