After passing BCS, many of them gave their political affiliation information to the police themselves during the verification process to secure jobs. But due to the collapse of the Awami League government in the student uprising, that information has now been leaked to them. According to the report of the Special Branch (SB) of the police, the association of the job seekers with Awami League is being looked at. Those whose involvement is proved, their appointment will be suspended.
Experts say that it is not the job of the police to find the political affiliation of government job aspirants. Follow the rules and police verification to get out of this culture.
Sources said, those who have been associated with opposition political parties during the last 15 years when Awami League was in power, were not appointed despite the recommendations of the Bangladesh Public Works Commission (PSC). 259 people were not appointed from 28th to 42nd BCS during the fallen government due to political identity. However, the interim government formed after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 appointed them and published the gazette on August 14.
It is known that on October 15, the gazette was published with the appointment of 43rd BCS passers.
On December 26, 2023, PSC recommended for the recruitment of 2 thousand 163 people in cadre posts. After the interim government took charge of their data, rechecking it with the Police SBK shows almost the same data. Then last month, the Ministry of Public Administration published the gazette appointing 2 thousand 64 people of the 43rd BCS in various cadres. 99 persons recommended by PSC for recruitment were not gazetted.
An official of the Ministry of Public Administration said that those gazetted in the 43rd BCS were asked to join the controlling ministry by November 17. However, it has been decided to re-verify those who have political affiliation information in the police verification. For this, gazetted candidates have been asked to join on January 1 instead of November 17. He said that the SB report has evidence of political involvement of many people. The interim government is verifying that evidence. In the current context, the government does not want to bring anyone who was directly associated with the politics of the fallen government to the job like BCS. For this, the National Security Intelligence Agency (NSI) and the Directorate General of Defense Intelligence (DGFI) are being re-verified about political affiliations.
The official said that the information of the candidates who were eliminated earlier is also being re-verified. According to him, many of them will be gazetted and some of those who were previously gazetted will drop out.
An officer of the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), on condition of anonymity, told this newspaper that in the last 15 years, there was no opportunity to file a negative police report against candidates associated with the Awami League or the Chhatra League. For this reason, after passing the government service examination, many of them have given the police information about their association with Chhatra League, Jubo League or Awami League's affiliates and affiliates on their own initiative. Police officials have also submitted verification reports by adding those details thinking of their own convenience. That information is now causing fear of job loss for many.
A candidate who has cleared the BCS examination has to provide 16 types of information in the pre-verification form. Apart from general information, whether he has been arrested, charged or convicted in any case is also sought. After passing these checks, SB gives the report. Apart from this, there is no other verification of information, but the intelligence agencies have been verifying the political identity of the candidate's family and relatives for years. However, no one can be disqualified from public service unless he has committed a criminal offence.
A gazetted candidate in the 43rd BCS said that he was never associated with the Chhatra League. However, according to the police verification report, he was associated with the politics of the then ruling party. He wrote this requesting the police. An affidavit of the then local MP of Awami League was also given to the police during verification. At present, the absconding MP is accused in several murder cases. If the people of the intelligence agency know about this, the gazette will be canceled or not, they are thinking.
An official of the Ministry of Public Administration said that not only the 43rd BCS, but those who have been appointed in some BCS during the Awami League government, those who have evidence of political affiliation will be re-verified.
Public administration expert Feroze Mia said that before appointing a candidate for government service, the police should check whether a candidate is accused of a criminal offense and whether there is evidence of involvement in terrorist activities against him or not. It is not a matter of consideration of the police who belongs to which party, which organization. But this is what prevailed during the last government. It shouldn't. Because all citizens of Bangladesh have the right to get government jobs. He said that no one will be deprived of a job unnecessarily if the police verification is done according to the rules.
Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua said that there is no opportunity to deprive someone of employment in government jobs if he is associated with a political party. He said to today's newspaper, 'If political identity is found, you cannot be appointed, it is not a matter. Because my political identity is my constitutional right. My political beliefs are not illegal. As the Awami League government made it a trend, the present government will also do it, there is no reason for it. This culture should be stopped.'
