Calling for an independent probe into the alleged question leak, agitating students and guardians yesterday presented before the media some screenshots which they claimed were of the medical admission question paper found on different social media sites.
And 85 to 90 questions — identical to those on the original question paper — were available on the internet the night before the exam, they alleged at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club.
One screenshot was of a set of questions which they claim was found on Facebook at 12:30am on September 18, nine and a half hours before the exam. Seventy-seven of the questions were exactly the ones that appeared on the original question paper, they alleged.
Students taking the exam have to answer a hundred multiple choice questions (MCQ), each carrying equal mark.
Demanding fresh MBBS and dental admission tests, the Chhatra Ovivabok Oikya Forum, a platform of agitating students and guardians, urged the government to form an independent probe committee under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1956.
According to the act, the government can appoint a “Commission of Inquiry” for probe into any definite matter of public importance. And the commission shall have the powers of a civil court.
“The facts and evidence regarding the question paper leak will be submitted to the Information Technology cell of the Directorate General of Health Services at Mohakhali on Monday [tomorrow],” said Asef Bin Taki, on behalf of students.
“We urge the government to form an independent investigation commission immediately,” he said.
At the press conference, students and guardians also played the audio clip of a mobile phone conversation in which someone was heard saying he obtained the questions the night before the exam. It was the voice of a student who got admission at Mymensingh Medical College, said the protesters.
Representative of guardians, Ashraf Kamal, said they talked to IT experts about the authenticity of the screenshots. “They told us those were 99.98 percent genuine.”
Kamal also claimed that Health Minister Mohammad Nasim through an MP wanted to talk with the agitators on Monday. But he declined to disclose the name of the lawmaker.
“We want the meeting to be held in front of journalists and attended by a delegation of at least 25 members from our side,” he said.
Earlier around 10:30am, some 80 students and guardians staged a sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar. After a protest procession, they formed a human chain for an hour around 12:30pm in front of the press club.
Hundreds of police and armed personnel carriers were deployed at several spots to prevent any untoward situation.
Asef Bin Taki called upon the students from all medical colleges, universities and other educational intuitions to extend their all-out supports in favour of their demand.
“We will go for a sit-in programme at the Central Shaheed Minar around 10:00am tomorrow [Sunday] and it will continue until our demand is met,” said the student representative, adding they would also protest the police attacks on agitating students.
Source: The Daily Star
