Leaked audio of Pirganj UNO and Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal leader sparks controversy over recruitment process
Photo Collected
An audio recording of a heated telephone conversation between the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Pirganj, Rangpur, and the local president of the Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has surfaced on social media, sparking controversy over the recruitment process for family card survey enumerators and supervisors.
The two-minute and 43-second audio features UNO Mahmudul Hasan and JCD Upazila President Mostafizur Rahman Milu debating the selection criteria, the political affiliations of the successful candidates, and the involvement of intelligence agencies. Both individuals confirmed the authenticity of the call, which took place last Friday.
In the recording, Mostafizur Rahman alleges that a significant portion of those selected for the positions are associated with the Awami League and Jamaat-e-Islami. He claimed that despite over 100 applications submitted by members of the JCD, none were selected. Rahman asserted that the inclusion of politically controversial figures in a project initiated by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) undermines the government’s reputation. He further stated that he intends to hold a press conference to present evidence regarding the alleged partisan recruitment.
UNO Mahmudul Hasan vehemently denied these accusations, maintaining that the recruitment process was conducted strictly on merit. He stated that no recommendations from any political party, individual, or media outlet were accepted. Hasan explained that the selection was based solely on the results of written and practical examinations and vetting conducted by the National Security Intelligence (NSI).
According to the UNO office, 2,082 candidates applied for 185 enumerator positions, while 315 vied for 19 supervisor roles. Following scrutiny and practical assessments held on July 30, the final results were published on August 7.
During the conversation, Rahman questioned why none of the candidates on the list he provided were chosen. The UNO retorted that no list was used during the hiring process and that candidates were required to achieve a passing score of 70 to qualify. Hasan noted that many applicants failed to meet the necessary threshold.
Addressing the leak of the audio, the UNO remarked that he was surprised by the recording, noting that he was speaking during a private phone call. He added that if any credible evidence is presented against the selected individuals, the administration would consider replacing them with candidates from the waiting list.
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