A number of politically connected people have allegedly been earning millions of takas from those aspiring to work as 3rd and 4th class employees in the health ministry.
There are allegations that those involved include current and former ministers, state ministers, secretaries, lawmakers, and the heads of doctors’ associations, who have been pocketing handsome amounts, on the promise of securing jobs for the candidates.
On April 26, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) conducted written tests for recruitment to more than 900 vacant posts, around the country, in the 3rd and 4th class category. More than 9,000 candidates appeared for the exams in nine districts, including Narayanganj, Mymenshing, Faridpur, Naogaon, Narail, Jessore, Satkhira, Barisal and Noakhali.
A number of DGHS officials, seeking anonymity, said since the day of the written exam, they had been reportedly receiving lists recommending names of candidates to the posts, by people who had taken bribes.
According to sources, the high-ranking people did not take the bribes personally but had appointed close associates to collect the money. These associates had even opened offices, just for collecting money from the candidates who sat for the written exam.
They said the bribe money could be anywhere between Tk200,000 to Tk600,000, depending on the post the candidate had applied for.
DGHS officials said the exam was conducted for recruitment to 928 vacant posts; but till May 28, they had received unofficial recommendation for as many as 1,600 candidates.
Some of the lobbyists had sent as many as 250 to 300 names each. Understandably, they had received bribes from all of them, DGHS officials said.
Sources also said the influential lobbyists were not only sending names, but were also threatening that none from their lists could be left out.
As a result, the DGHS was unable to publish the results, since the number of recommended names was nearly twice the number of vacant posts.
DGHS officials had earlier said a decision would be taken after the Health Minister AFM Ruhul Haq returned home from the World Health Assembly in Geneva.
Even though the minister has returned a few days back, a decision in this regard was yet to be taken, they said.
Dhaka Tribune has learnt that the top doctors of a private hospital in Dhaka’s Shyamoli area were controlling the recruitments for the Satkhira district.
Not only this, an influential figure from Mymensingh had announced he would float a tender for appointing persons to do the job of collecting bribes on his behalf, if neededso that no aspirant was deprived of an opportunity.
A high-ranking government official from Gazipur district has reportedly threatened the DGHS top brass that he would make sure they get fired, if even a single candidate recommended by him was left out.
On June 12, in the presence of this reporter at the DGHS office, a junior doctor submitted a list of 11 names to a top official of the directorate and said a minister had sent the list.
When contacted, DGHS Director General, Professor Dr Khondaker Md Shefyetullah said the number of candidates were much greater than the number of vacant posts.
Due to the high level of unemployment in the country, people have resorted to taking and offering bribes for securing government jobs.
He, however, assured that no amount of recommendation would work and recruitment to the jobs would only be on the basis of the performance of the candidatesin the written exam and the viva voce.
He said he was aware of the situation concerning the taking of bribes but was yet to get any concrete proof.
