Allegations of Recruitment Trade in BIWTA

A syndicate has allegedly made large sums of money through recruitment trade during the written examinations of various categories under the Technical Pool of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).

Serious allegations have been raised that this organized group engaged in fraud by allowing impostors to sit for examinations in place of real candidates (proxy examinees).

Multiple sources say that the practice of using alternative candidates to pass the written test has been going on in BIWTA for a long time. It has been reported that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police has occasionally arrested some members of this ring. However, in the end, these matters remain unknown and unresolved. As a result, this syndicate continues its operations with renewed confidence. Victims claim that widespread proxy examinations have taken place in this BIWTA recruitment process.

They state that irregularities and fraud generally occur in the written test for Grade-17 positions. Several deprived candidates who participated in the test challenged the process and alleged that candidates with roll numbers 48001651, 48002061, and 48003024 took part and passed the written exam. They claim these candidates did not sit for the exam themselves but hired others (proxy examinees) to fill out their answer sheets. They further said that the invigilators did not verify whether the candidate’s face matched the photo on the admit card, nor did they cross-check the signatures, which enabled fake candidates to participate. Additionally, extensive use of mobile phones and devices occurred, and some candidates replaced others during the exam.

Another deprived candidate said that if the above roll-numbered candidates were asked to sit for the same test again with the same questions, they wouldn’t score even 30 percent. Yet, they passed the exam allegedly through fraudulent means. Not just these few—many other candidates are believed to have passed using irregular methods. Some candidates were reportedly tested outside the designated centers; victims claim that proper investigation will expose the fraud.

Speaking with a senior BIWTA official, he said that similar irregularities occurred in previous recruitment cycles as well. He stated that certain political affiliates are involved in this recruitment process. A retired member had reportedly earned several crores of taka through recruitment trade in the past. He explained that a large, organized syndicate operates across multiple phases of the technical pool recruitment. First, they make an agreement with the chosen candidate involving a large sum of illicit money. Then, proxy candidates or “body-change candidates” take both the written and practical exams. After passing the written test, dummy candidates appear for the practical exam as well. In the final stage, they even attend the viva exam and pass easily. The payment is made in three phases: 30% after passing the written test, 30% after the practical test, and the remaining 40% after passing the viva. The organized group divides the entire amount among themselves, with the recruitment committee members playing the key role.

According to crime analysts, an institution’s efficiency depends heavily on internal governance and discipline. This is even more applicable for an organization like BIWTA. Strict discipline must be ensured. The authorities should investigate the matter and take action. It is essential to unmask those who are involved in such corruption.

Victims have demanded that BIWTA verify whether multiple answer sheets carry identical handwriting, whether both candidate and evaluator signatures exist, whether the personal details and signatures on the top sheet match, whether there are discrepancies in spelling of names or signatures, whether signatures match between attendance sheets and top sheets, whether the handwriting in written answers matches that seen during the viva, and whether the invigilators' signatures show inconsistencies.

Speaking to candidates and their families, it was revealed that corruption took place in the recruitment process, involving lakhs of taka in recruitment trade. They have demanded that the exam be suspended and a new recruitment notice issued. They insist on a full investigation and legal action against those involved, so that no qualified candidate faces such injustice in the future.

When asked about the widespread fraud and irregularities in the recruitment examination for various positions under BIWTA’s Technical Pool, the recruitment committee convener and engineer A.K.M. Fazlul Haque declined to comment.