Civil surgeon’s office locked in Kushtia over question leak and bribery in job tests

Students, job seekers, and local residents locked the main gate of the Kushtia Civil Surgeon's Office and staged a protest, alleging question leaks, bribery and various irregularities in the recruitment examination for seven posts under the health ministry held yesterday (24 October).

The protest took place at 1pm today (25 October) at the Civil Surgeon's Office on NS Road in the town. Chanting slogans, the demonstrators demanded cancellation of the controversial recruitment test and a fresh examination based on transparency.

At the time, Civil Surgeon Sheikh Mohammad Kamal Hossain was inside the office.

According to sources, 16,789 candidates took part in the recruitment exam for 115 vacancies across seven categories yesterday.

Protesters alleged that the questions of the written tests had been leaked beforehand. Controversy erupted after 25 to 30 candidates were seen entering a house in the town under "suspicious circumstances" and leaving before the exam. 

Allegations arose that answers of the recruitment test questions were memorised there. It was later revealed that the house belonged to Dr Hossain Imam, residential medical officer (RMO) of Kushtia General Hospital. 

Job applicant Russel Rana said, "It is clear that questions were sold in the recruitment exam. We demand that this test be cancelled and a new one held on the basis of merit."

Another candidate, Taib Raim Pranto, said, "I sat for the office assistant‑cum‑computer post. After the exam I heard that the questions had already been leaked. For those of us who studied hard, our effort has no value. The exam must be cancelled immediately."

Former leader of the Students Against Discrimination, Mostafizur Rahman, said, "We had planned to announce a programme against irregularities on 26 October. But we learnt that results were being prepared for announcement today. So we announced this programme immediately. If the exam is not cancelled, we will observe a shutdown in Kushtia tomorrow."

Meanwhile, Civil Surgeon Dr Sheikh Mohammad Kamal Hossain has sent a written report to the Director General of Health Services regarding the controversy over the alleged leak. In the letter, seen by The Business Standard, he stated that the written test on 24 October was conducted in a fair environment. However, a video went viral on social media showing several candidates leaving a house, which was identified as belonging to RMO Dr Hossain Imam. This, he said, created confusion among the public.

Denying the allegations, RMO Hossain Imam said, "I know nothing about the incident. My ancestral house has multiple floors used as messes. The candidates were staying there. I do not know why they fled after the exam."

The civil surgeon added, "After the video went viral, we informed the ministry in writing. Now the ministry will take the next steps on this matter."