A section of Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) officials face several corruption charges and are allegedly involved in irregularities including certificate forgery and getting answer scripts evaluated by a computer operator. A probe committee of the education ministry has now found evidence to support the allegations against a ‘syndicate’ in which even the top bosses of the Board are allegedly involved. However, the ministry is yet to take stern action against these officials.
At least 15 Secondary School Certificate (vocational) students of 2016 allegedly obtained certificates without even taking the examinations. This has been possible allegedly due to the patronisation of the syndicate. Even BTEB secretary Nayeb Ali Mondol is allegedly involved in it, said Board sources.
Every year, the syndicate members allegedly get some fake students registered in Class IX. These names are changed after two years when the final examinations are held. The names are replaced with those of candidates.
Even failed students allegedly get forged certificates. The syndicate allegedly erases the data from the computer to hide the forgery. The education ministry reportedly even has proof supporting these allegations.
A probe committee of the Technical and Madrasa Education Division of the education ministry has found at least eight types of forgery. These include issuing fake registrations and several admit cards against the same roll number and registration number, forgery of results to enable a student pass the final exams, students failed in Class IX but passed in Class X, and students failed in three subjects but promoted to Class X.
The education ministry formed the probe committee after allegations surfaced that six fake students were registered for the SSC (vocational) examinations in 2016 with the Bera Fazil Madrasa in Pabna, which is Mondol’s hometown.
The two-member probe committee found 15 students obtained certificates even without taking examinations. When their full names and addresses were sought from the board, the latter could not give these to the committee. The education board has no record of these ‘students’ who have apparently ‘passed’ the SSC (vocational) final examinations in 2016.
The committee found six fake registration numbers—551185, 890227, 551172, 890226, 890233 and 890232—which were registered in session 2014. Their SSC (vocational) roll numbers were 662847, 758758, 662890, 758757, 758762, and 758807 in the 2016 final examinations. Though these roll numbers belong to male students, their registration was done at a girls’ madrasa—Pabna Mahila Fazil Madrasa.
The probe committee report pointed out that secretary Nayeb Ali Mondol did not perform his duties well. The report also held BTEB chairman Mostafizur Rahman responsible for utter negligence of duties.
The ministry letter signed by the deputy secretary of education ministry, Subodh Chandra Dhali, on 23 January clearly held Mondol responsible for the forgery. The letter stated, “The probe committee has found proof of the allegation of registration replacement. As a senior officer of the Board, you (Mondol) should have played a more responsible role, including intensive supervision, and proper caretaking.”
The ministry also directed him to be more dutiful and actively supervise and coordinate the administrative activities and the registration process. The Board secretary refused to make any comment to The Independent.
In another incident of alleged corruption, Nurunnahar Begum, an upper division assistant and computer operator of Gazipur Technical School and College, produced a bill for Tk 7,000 for evaluating the examination papers of SSC (vocational) Class IX final examination in 2015.
Nurunnahar, who also happens to be a sister of the BTEB chairman, evaluated 300 answer scripts of the subject ‘Bangladesh and Bishwaporichoy-1’. She took Tk 6,000 for evaluating the papers and Tk 1,000 as transportation allowance from the BTEB. Questions have been raised on how a computer operator could evaluate the papers. When asked about it, BTEB chairman Mostafizur Rahman refused to comment.