Candidates block Dhaka roads as govt recruitment test scrapped over leak claims
The Department of Youth Development urged candidates to remain patient and calm, saying the test will be held next week with a new question paper, subject to the availability of examination centres.
Job seekers held protests and blocked major roads in Dhaka, including the Shahbagh intersection, today (10 October) after the Department of Youth Development suspended its recruitment exam for assistant upazila youth development officers over allegations of a question paper leak.
The examination for the 11th-grade post was scheduled for 11am today. Authorities suspended it shortly before it began, with candidates saying said officials had already distributed question papers at some centres.
Candidates also blocked Manik Mia Avenue, Sat Masjid Road and roads near Bangla College and Khilgaon, disrupting traffic.
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They chanted slogans demanding answers over the alleged leak.
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station Assistant Sub-Inspector Md Lokman Hossain said protesters blocked Manik Mia Avenue near the Aarong intersection.
Traffic from Asad Gate towards Dhanmondi remains operational, but protesters are occupying the opposite side, he added.
TBS could not reach recruitment committee Chair DM Atikur Rahman, the department's director (administration), and Member Secretary Md Atikur Rahman, deputy director (administration-1), for comment.
According to BSS, the decision to suspend the test was taken about an hour before it was scheduled to begin in order to uphold transparency, protect the credibility of the recruitment process and avoid substantial financial waste.
A high-level investigation committee has been formed to look into the incident, with Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports HM Mizanur Rahman as its convener.
Department of Youth Development Director General Md Motaher Hossain told BSS, "The current government believes in transparency. We do not want to publish the results of any examination amid controversy. For this reason, we decided to postpone the examination one hour before it was scheduled to begin."
The department urged candidates to remain patient and calm, saying the examination will be held next week with a new question paper, subject to the availability of examination centres. Candidates will be informed of the rescheduled date through SMS and an official notice within the next two to three days.
Eman Molla, who travelled from Faridpur to sit for the examination at Aziz School and College in Madartek, told The Business Standard that candidates had taken their seats before an invigilator announced the suspension.
He said centre officials gave no explanation, although candidates have heard that the question paper had been leaked.
Another candidate, Md Tamim, confirmed that officials made a similar announcement at the centre.
Many expressed frustration over the sudden suspension after travelling long distances to take the test.
A total of 3,19,000 candidates were expected to sit for the examination at 95 centres across Dhaka in the examination for 242 posts of assistant upazila youth development officer, reports BSS.
Department of Youth Development Director General Motaher said the department learned of reports that question papers had circulated on social media after being delivered to the examination centres.
"It is not appropriate to publish the results of an examination amid controversy. The decision was taken to ensure transparency and avoid financial waste," he said.
He said the investigation panel will identify those involved in the leak and that legal action will be taken against them.
