Leak of Primary Teacher Recruitment Exam Questions Involves Pabiprabi Official Jewel

ছবিঃ সংগৃহীত

Patuakhali, Bangladesh: Allegations have surfaced regarding a question paper leak during the 2023 Government Primary School Assistant Teacher Recruitment Exam, held at Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU). The center of the controversy is Deputy Registrar Saidur Rahman Jewel.

Reports indicate that the first phase of the 2023 assistant teacher recruitment exam took place across the Barishal, Rangpur, and Sylhet divisions. PSTU was selected as an examination center for the Barishal division. Around 3,500 candidates appeared at the PSTU center on December 8, 2023.

Investigations suggest that under the leadership of Deputy Registrar Saidur Rahman Jewel, a few officials allegedly leaked the question paper to provide unethical advantages to certain candidates. The exam was scheduled from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. During this time, Jewel reportedly took photos of the question paper from his assigned examination hall and sent them outside. Another official, Deputy Registrar Madhab Chandra Shil, allegedly solved the questions and returned the answers to the center within a short time.

On the exam day, Jewel was officially assigned to Center-2 (Administrative), located in Room 400 on the fourth floor of the TSC building. However, he reportedly went to the academic center led by Dr. Shafiq to carry out the alleged plan. Papri Hazra, an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science, was substituted in Jewel’s place at Center-2.

Further investigation revealed that Madhab Chandra Shil and several others were stationed at a nearby closed school in Boga Union during the exam to handle the question paper sent by Jewel. His absence from the hall was confirmed through inspection records and attendance logs of the TSC Conference Room.

Recently, screenshots obtained by the University Journalists’ Association reportedly show the question paper being sent via WhatsApp at 10:01 AM on the exam day. The set involved was labeled ‘Surma’ with code 3671, and answers were returned via the same platform.

This is not the first allegation against Jewel. Former President of the Officers’ Association, he has previously faced accusations of corruption, including unauthorized recruitment and large-scale recruitment trading in 2023. Allegedly, he facilitated appointments for his relatives and pressured university staff and journalists to cover up irregularities.

When questioned, Jewel denied the allegations, calling them “baseless and false,” and stated that he had no involvement in sending or solving the question papers. Madhab Chandra Shil also denied participation, citing illness on the exam day.

Patuakhali District Primary Education Officer Umme Salma Laizu commented, “The primary responsibility for the leak lies with the university authorities. The district administration and even ministry officials were overseeing the center, so this incident highlights failures at multiple levels.”

The investigation continues as authorities review the role of PSTU officials in this alleged malpractice, raising concerns about transparency and integrity in national-level recruitment exams.