Eleven Primary Assistant Teacher candidates were detained on Sunday evening in Dinajpur over alleged fraud in a primary school teacher recruitment exam.
The incident took place at the office of the Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner during the ongoing oral examinations. The district administration said the candidates had earlier passed the written test by using unfair means.
The written examination was held on 9 January, and the results were published on 21 January in the district. A total of 2,500 candidates passed the written test in Dinajpur, according to the district administration. The oral examinations started on 28 January across four boards in the district. On Sunday, 400 candidates were scheduled to appear before the viva boards.
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Suspicion began when a candidate, Golam Rafsani, failed to answer basic questions taken from the written test paper. Viva board members questioned him, and he later admitted he did not sit the written exam himself.
Officials said a person named Faisal Ahmed took the written exam on his behalf. Golam Rafsani is a resident of the Dugdugi Bazar area under Palsha Union in Ghoraghat Upazila. Based on similar allegations, ten more candidates were detained while appearing in the oral examination.
The district administration said each candidate is being questioned separately, and legal steps will follow after the investigation. Another candidate, Manas Chandra Roy, admitted to using a device during the written examination, officials said.
He told investigators that a person named Manirul Islam Rubel supplied him with the device. Manas Chandra Roy is a resident of Biral Upazila in Dinajpur. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Habibul Hasan said Golam Rafsani had an agreement with an organised fraud gang.
He said the deal was worth Tk 10 lakh in exchange for ensuring the job. After passing the written test, Tk 50,000 was taken, and the transaction was made through a person named Ashraful. Habibul Hasan also said 18 people were earlier caught during the written exam for using proxies and electronic devices.
They were sent to jail through court orders, he added. He said the administration and police have been working together for three months to identify the gang. A team from the district detective police has now been deployed in the field.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Anwar Hossain said preliminary information indicates possible involvement of some Primary Education Office staff and teachers.
Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner Md Rafiqul Islam said strict legal action will be taken if the allegations are proved after investigation.