Punish those involved in question paper leaks

Stringent steps against corruption in public examinations have made us hopeful. Charge sheets of the much talked about question paper leak in Dhaka University admission test were issued recently. A gang of over 50 persons responsible for the question paper leak in the primary teachers’ recruitment test in five districts were detained. We hope that the movement to ensure transparency in public exams becomes a social movement. However, it is not only the government’s responsibility. Guardians of the students paid the Taka 200 million confiscated from the question paper leakers.

The government has taken up a zero tolerance policy against irregularities in public exams. The main challenge ahead of the government is prove its trustworthiness to the people. We have long been maintaining that ensuring transparency in public exams entails strong political will. Naming 21 leaders and activists of the ruling party student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League in the CID’s charge sheet will play an important role in curbing exam-related corruption.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has finalised its charge sheet against 1625 people, including 87 Dhaka University (DU) students, in question paper leak. They disclosed this in a press conference taking the importance of the matter into account. This proves that CID has the ability to bust all kinds of criminal gangs in the country. And, people want to see their success.

Stakeholders unanimously agreed that the quality of education in the country has been dropping drastically. We cannot find solution to this problem overnight. Political will from the highest level is a prerequisite for reforming the education sector. Nepotism and politicisation has been given more importance than merit and competence in recruiting teachers and vice chancellors. This malpractice has debilitated the whole education system to its core. There is widespread corruption in bringing schools and colleges under Monthly Pay Order (MPO) system. No punitive action was taken against this corruption.

The corruption in public exams is linked to the overall decline in the education sector. All kinds of administrative, legal and judicial steps should be taken to fight corruption in this sector. The whole nation will collapse if the education sector collapses. So, the ongoing anti-corruption drive against exam related corruption should continue. Precautionary measures should be taken in preparing and distributing the question papers of public exams. The authorities should take measures against those who show negligence in this regard.

CID is about to create a precedent after a long hiatus. We hope the High Court ensures speedy trial. But, we will see how long it takes to submit the supplementary charge sheet against 89 people after verification of their addresses. It is now duty of the police to nab 78 fugitives in the case. Nothing would be more frustrating if Dhaka University authorities prevaricate in expelling the accused.