SM Mizanur Rahman :
As the government has not come up yet with effective measures to stop question paper leakage at all level of public examinations, it is gradually taking a serious turn, academics cautioned.
“The question paper leakage has become a regular feature here as the government has totally failed to take effective steps to prevent such crimes,” Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, told The New Nation on Friday.
He said only exemplary punishment of persons responsible for the leakage of question papers of public examinations can stop it in future.
Echoing the same, University Grants Commission (UGC) member Dr. Dil Afroza Begum and TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman urged the government not to print question papers from the BG Press as what they said the ‘officials and employees’ of the Commission are involved with such wrongdoing.
They termed the question paper leakage a national problem saying the paper setters, printing press personnel and all those who come into contact with handling of question papers are involved with the leakage.
The three academics said as the authorities concerned have a tendency to refuse the allegations of question paper leakage and did not make probe reports to public after conducting investigations into the allegations, the incident of question paper leakage continues, deteriorating the country’s education sector.
On Friday, three people, including an Assistant Director of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Omar Siraj, were arrested in connection with the question leakage.
A team of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested the trio, conducting a raid at the UGC office at Agargaon in the capital, said Mufti Mahmud Khan, Director, Media Wing of the elite force battalion while addressing a press briefing.
He said RAB arrested a total of 42 persons in this connection during the last one week.
On Sunday, the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police also arrested seven members of a question paper leakage syndicate from the city’s different areas conducting simultaneous drives.
Some question papers, answer sheets, admit cards and Tk 50,000 were recovered from their possessions during the drive. Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury said it is very unfortunate that an official of the UGC is involved in question paper leakage.
“If a crime like question leakage is not stopped, the career of brilliant students will be destroyed. As a result, the corrupt students will get chance at the prestigious higher educational institutions. In this way they will also rule the country,” he said. UGC Member Dr. Dil Afroza Begum termed the incident as very unfortunate saying they will go for action tomorrow (Sunday).
“UGC doesn’t tolerate such crime. We have already started investigating the incident,” she said.
She urged the government not to print the question papers from the BG Press as the question papers are leaked from the institution.
“At first we will have to take decision that we will not go to BG Press for printing question papers,” Dil Afroza Begum said. She demanded of the government to take immediate steps to halt question paper leakage, admitting its failure in this regard. TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said coaching centres and government employees have been part of a big nexus in leaking question papers prior to all the public examinations.
“It is quite impossible to leak question papers unless a section of the government employees, who are deployed in printing and distribution of question papers, are involved,” he added.
He said officials of Primary Education Directorate, Education Boards, BG Press as well as local administrations have reportedly been involved in question paper leakage incidents.
“We found that student wings of ruling party, coaching centres, guidebook traders, photocopy shops, applicants and sometimes guardians play active role in circulating the leaked question papers,” he said.
As the government has not come up yet with effective measures to stop question paper leakage at all level of public examinations, it is gradually taking a serious turn, academics cautioned.
“The question paper leakage has become a regular feature here as the government has totally failed to take effective steps to prevent such crimes,” Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, told The New Nation on Friday.
He said only exemplary punishment of persons responsible for the leakage of question papers of public examinations can stop it in future.
Echoing the same, University Grants Commission (UGC) member Dr. Dil Afroza Begum and TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman urged the government not to print question papers from the BG Press as what they said the ‘officials and employees’ of the Commission are involved with such wrongdoing.
They termed the question paper leakage a national problem saying the paper setters, printing press personnel and all those who come into contact with handling of question papers are involved with the leakage.
The three academics said as the authorities concerned have a tendency to refuse the allegations of question paper leakage and did not make probe reports to public after conducting investigations into the allegations, the incident of question paper leakage continues, deteriorating the country’s education sector.
On Friday, three people, including an Assistant Director of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Omar Siraj, were arrested in connection with the question leakage.
A team of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested the trio, conducting a raid at the UGC office at Agargaon in the capital, said Mufti Mahmud Khan, Director, Media Wing of the elite force battalion while addressing a press briefing.
He said RAB arrested a total of 42 persons in this connection during the last one week.
On Sunday, the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police also arrested seven members of a question paper leakage syndicate from the city’s different areas conducting simultaneous drives.
Some question papers, answer sheets, admit cards and Tk 50,000 were recovered from their possessions during the drive. Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury said it is very unfortunate that an official of the UGC is involved in question paper leakage.
“If a crime like question leakage is not stopped, the career of brilliant students will be destroyed. As a result, the corrupt students will get chance at the prestigious higher educational institutions. In this way they will also rule the country,” he said. UGC Member Dr. Dil Afroza Begum termed the incident as very unfortunate saying they will go for action tomorrow (Sunday).
“UGC doesn’t tolerate such crime. We have already started investigating the incident,” she said.
She urged the government not to print the question papers from the BG Press as the question papers are leaked from the institution.
“At first we will have to take decision that we will not go to BG Press for printing question papers,” Dil Afroza Begum said. She demanded of the government to take immediate steps to halt question paper leakage, admitting its failure in this regard. TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said coaching centres and government employees have been part of a big nexus in leaking question papers prior to all the public examinations.
“It is quite impossible to leak question papers unless a section of the government employees, who are deployed in printing and distribution of question papers, are involved,” he added.
He said officials of Primary Education Directorate, Education Boards, BG Press as well as local administrations have reportedly been involved in question paper leakage incidents.
“We found that student wings of ruling party, coaching centres, guidebook traders, photocopy shops, applicants and sometimes guardians play active role in circulating the leaked question papers,” he said.
