A move to recruit personnel for the newly established July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum solely through oral interviews, bypassing mandatory written examinations, has triggered widespread criticism and concerns over transparency.
The controversy comes just days before the national election scheduled for February 12, leading critics to question the haste of the recruitment process.
Allegations of Bypassing Rules
Sources within the Ministry of Cultural Affairs revealed that the museum authorities recently initiated the recruitment of 96 individuals for 62 positions ranging from Grade 20 to Grade 6. While thousands of candidates applied by the February 4 deadline, reports suggest that the museum is preparing to finalize appointments for revenue-funded positions—including first-class posts—without any written testing.
According to the ‘July Uprising Memorial Museum (Officers and Employees) Service Rules 2025’, written examinations are mandatory. The regulations require testing in Bengali, English, Mathematics, and General Knowledge or relevant technical subjects, with a minimum qualifying score of 50% required to reach the viva stage.
Authority Defends Decision
Responding to the allegations, Tanzim Wahab, Director General of the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum, maintained that the process is being conducted in full compliance with the law.
“We are following the regulations 100%. Under Sub-clause 3 of Clause 3 of the Service Rules, the authority has the power to relax conditions for candidates with special qualifications in a specialized institution like this,” said Tanzim Wahab.
He further noted that the recruitment process received presidential approval to expedite the museum’s opening. He argued that the oral interviews are designed to assess administrative efficiency, communication skills, and the “presence of mind” of the candidates in a shorter timeframe.
Transparency Concerns
However, officials from the Ministry of Public Administration expressed skepticism. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior official noted that skipping written exams for revenue-sector jobs is contrary to standard administrative practice and could lead to legal challenges or future cancellations of the appointments.
“Relying solely on a viva is not an acceptable selection method for first-class positions. It opens the door for bias and favoritism,” the official warned.
Adding to the tension, several applicants complained that they were not notified of the interview process, while others reportedly received SMS invitations only a few days before the scheduled dates. Critics allege that the “haste” is an attempt to finalize a pre-selected list of candidates before the interim government’s term concludes.
TIB’s Reaction
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), termed the move “unacceptable.”
- Rule of Law: He emphasized that using the “specialized institution” excuse to bypass written exams in first-class recruitment reflects a lack of accountability.
- Negative Legacy: He warned that while the government may want to establish the museum quickly as a “legacy,” doing so by bypassing rules creates a “negative legacy.”
- Public Trust: “This is a significant national institution. If it begins its journey by bypassing established rules, it sets a poor example for the future,” he added.
As the February 12 election approaches, the pressure on the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to ensure a fair and merit-based recruitment process continues to mount.
