Biman official found negligent
FROM PAGE 12
“I don’t want to comment on the report as I have not seen it yet,” he said, adding that he was involved in the question-setting committee by default but his name was not mentioned in the charge sheet.
On October 21, 2022, Biman Bangladesh was to hold a recruitment exam for 10 posts for electricians, mechanics, welders, painters, operators and tailors.
Around two hours before the exam, the recruitment process had to be suspended because it was found that the question paper had been leaked.
The investigation report, turned in on November 27 last year, stated, “The question-paper setting committee is responsible for this question leak.”
On December 27, 2022, the ministry sent the probe findings to the managing director of Biman and instructed them to “take appropriate action against the employees found responsible as per the findings”.
According to the probe report, the question setting was done over two days – October 19 and October 20, 2022.
On the second day, Nizam had invited MLSS (member of lower subordinate staff) Jahid Hasan, along with a deputy general manager and an assistant manager, to print and photocopy the question papers. None of these people were part of the question-setting committee approved by the board.
As they all were carrying their cellphones, Jahid, unsupervised at the time, took a photo of the question paper while photocopying.
Another investigation report, prepared by Biman itself, also confirmed the incident.
“It has been proved that the question paper has been leaked from the offices of the general manager and director of administration,” it said.
Jahid was formally accused by the DB in the charge sheet in the Digital Security Act case filed in connection with the leak.
In a confessional statement, Jahid said, “On October 19, the GM of admin (Nizam) instructed me to report by 10:00am the next day at the director of admin’s office. I personally photocopied a thousand sets at first and then 216 more, using the photocopy machine in that office.
“During the last set of 216, GM Nizam went to the washroom and I took a photo using my cellphone.”
The Biman report said Jahid was included in the process without any written decision or permission taken.
The ministry’s investigation report said the committee is at fault because it not only invited people, who had not been pre-approved, into the room but also allowed them to carry cellphones, adding that it was “careless and thoughtless management”.
The report recommended that nobody be allowed to bring in cellphones or use the internet during the question-setting and printing process.
On June 19, Nizam Uddin was first transferred from his post to the Public Security Division of the home ministry.
But before he could join his post, Biman on June 23 sent him to Saudi Arabia “to assist Bangladeshi hajis” for 37 days.
On July 9, the division issued an order announcing that Nizam will be promoted to DC of Bhola. Then on July 13, the ministry changed his posting to Shariatpur.
Biman has so far terminated or temporarily suspended at least 21 staffers, including traffic helpers, cleaners, security guards and office aides, over the leak.
Other than Jahid, none of the others was present in the photocopy room. But they were found guilty of either receiving or helping distribute the leaked papers.
It was pointed out to the State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain that the civil aviation ministry blamed the entire question-setting committee for the question leak, to which he responded that it does not mean that every person in the committee was involved.