A representative of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (DSHE) has allegedly forced the authorities of Ideal School and College in Dhaka to hold an recruitment exam with question papers prepared solely by him.
The examination was held on October 28 for the post of the assistant headmaster and was reportedly rigged for recruitmenting a certain candidate.
A total of 35 candidates attended the exam.
Sources told the Bangla Tribune that shortly before the exam was scheduled to begin, the DG’s representative for the institution Md Insan Ali, the headmaster of Dhanmondi Government Boys’ High School, pressured the recruitment sub-committee to use a question paper prepared by him.
This incident led to a tense situation at the examination centre as the sub-committee convener, members and the thana education officer rejected the proposal.
During the commotion, Insan Ali claimed that a high-up from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s office asked him to prepare this question paper and then he threatened to leave the exam centre if his question paper is not used.
On the same day, Principal of the institution Prof Dr Shahan Ara wrote to the president of the governing body, informing him about the alleged question paper leak.
She also recommended that a new examination be held for the recruitment of the assistant headmaster.
On the letter, she mentioned that Insan Ali “misbehaved” with the school authorities, sub-committee members and the thana education officer.
“The DG representative’s behaviour has raised questions over the transparency of this examination process,” the letter read.
When approached for comment on the matter, Insan Ali said: “I did not set the question paper all by myself. This allegation is defamatory.
“The examination was held with the question paper jointly prepared by myself, the principal and the education officer. These allegations are part of a conspiracy to cancel the test.”
Sources said the DG, the principal and a part of the sub-committee each have their own preferred candidate for the position of assistant headmaster of Ideal School and College, leading to the commotion on the day of the examination.
The Bangla Tribune has learned that just days before the Ideal school
appointment exam, the Education Ministry directed the authorities concerned to take departmental action against Insan Ali, after finding evidence of corruption and extortion against him.
On October 18, a letter bearing the signature of DSHE Deputy Secretary Abu Ali Md Sajjad Hossain directed that Insan Ali be transferred outside Dhaka.
Responding to a question on the integrity of this representative, DSHE DG Dr SM Wahiduzzaman said: “Representatives are selected as per the requirement of the each and every educational institution. I will look into the allegations against Insan Ali.”
This article was first published on Bangla Tribune.