Kalai Degree College Recruitment Test in Joypurhat Suspended 10 Minutes Before Start; Bribe Allegation Denied

A recruitment test for the post of accounts assistant at Kalai Degree College in Joypurhat was suspended just 10 minutes before it was due to begin. On the night before the test, an allegation that a bribe of Tk 30 lakh had been taken from a candidate for appointment to the post had spread on social media.

The test was scheduled to be held today, Friday, at 10 am at Joypurhat Government Women's College in the district town. At around 9:45 am, the principal of Joypurhat Government Women's College, Jahangir Alam, issued a notice suspending the test, citing unavoidable reasons. Candidates who had come from far away suffered as a result, and uncertainty was created among them over the specific reason for the suspension.

A total of 14 candidates had applied for the post. Six candidates appeared at the Joypurhat Government Women's College centre this morning to sit the test. Among them was Abu Raihan Mondal, the candidate alleged to have paid the Tk 30 lakh bribe.

Abu Raihan Mondal, however, denied paying any bribe. He said that although the test was supposed to be held at 10 am, he saw no sign of the test being organised even as the scheduled time approached. He said he had made no financial transaction with anyone.

The host Joypurhat Government Women's College principal Jahangir Alam gave a different explanation. He said three of the five members of the recruitment board had arrived before the scheduled time, but he had not seen Taj Uddin, president of the college's governing body, on the board, and it was not possible to reach him by mobile phone either. For that reason, the recruitment test was suspended in unavoidable circumstances, he said.

Taj Uddin claimed the recruitment test was suspended because representatives of the National University and the Directorate (DG) were not present. Asked about the allegation of taking a Tk 30 lakh bribe, he said: 'Many things are said on Facebook. The allegation of taking money is not correct.'

Yadav Sarkar, deputy director of Joypurhat's Local Government Division, was present on the recruitment board as the deputy commissioner's representative. Speaking by mobile phone on Friday afternoon, he said he would submit a written report to the deputy commissioner on why the test was suspended.

Meanwhile, Rezaul Karim Pramanik, acting principal of Kalai Degree College, did not answer calls to his mobile phone, so his comment on the matter could not be obtained.