BSCL Investigates Alleged Secret Recruitment Conducted Seven Years Ago
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Exactly seven years ago, Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) conducted a recruitment process. Preliminary, written, oral and practical examinations were held. However, the final results were never published. Yet all four stages of the examinations were conducted in just two days. Allegations suggest that the entire process was carried out secretly. The appointments were allegedly made based on recommendations from individuals already working at BSCL and influential political figures of the time.
There is also no record of the recruitment on BSCL’s website. The victims submitted a written complaint two months ago. This was followed by an order for an investigation. An explanation has also been sought. BSCL said an internal investigation committee has been formed and that a report will soon be sent to the Posts and Telecommunications Division.
Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, personal secretary to the secretary of the Posts and Telecommunications Division, confirmed that an official letter had been sent to BSCL.
According to the complaint, the then Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited (now BSCL) published a recruitment notice on May 30, 2019, seeking to appoint 15 executive assistants. The victims said the advertisement was published in a little-known newspaper.
The preliminary and written examinations were held on July 26 of that year at the Rose-N-Dale Building on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue in the capital. The oral examination was conducted within three hours of the written test. The practical examination was held the following day.
The victims said they received no information for a long time after the examinations. Upon making inquiries, they learned that police verification had already been completed for those who were recruited. They also claimed that 13 of the 15 recruits had already been working at BSCL on a contractual basis. Their photographs had already been displayed on the organization’s website.
The victims said they submitted written complaints to five different offices after the change in government. They claimed that all of the offices accepted the complaints but did not take any visible action.
Job applicant Md. Nasim Parvez said, “I have only one expectation, an impartial investigation and justice. I learned that relatives of then Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders and various influential Awami League leaders got the jobs. I have submitted written complaints to the managing director of BSCL, the adviser, minister and secretary of the relevant ministry. This is not a personal vendetta. I want the truth to come out and the qualified candidates who suffered to receive justice.”
Another victim, Abdul Majid, said, “After the preliminary, written and viva examinations, we received a phone call late at night and were told that there would be a computer test the next day. When we arrived, I saw that four groups had been formed. The first three groups took the test for around 40 to 45 minutes each. Later, I learned that everyone who was recruited was in those three groups. But our group’s examination ended in just 10 minutes. After that, the results were never published. Much later, I learned that police verification of the selected candidates had already been completed.”
“The entire recruitment process was merely for show. A few candidates from outside were called only to create an appearance of fairness. At present, the results of every recruitment process are published on the website. But there is no information about that recruitment. Since many years have passed, most of the candidates did not file complaints. Only the two of us submitted complaints. Even after three weeks, no one from the ministry has contacted us,” Abdul Majid added.
When contacted on the matter, BSCL Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Muhammad Imadur Rahman told Agamir Somoy, “This recruitment took place during the early days of the institution. We received a letter from the ministry a few days ago regarding an investigation into the complaint. Accordingly, an internal investigation committee has been formed. After completing the investigation, the report will soon be sent to the ministry.”
