NU recruitment exam held excluding most applicants

Allegations have surfaced that the written examination for section officer posts at the National University (NU) was conducted for a limited group of internal and selected candidates, effectively excluding the majority of applicants –    many of whom say they were never informed that the exam was taking place.
According to information published on the university’s website, a recruitment notice covering nine categories of posts was issued on 8 January. 
The written examination for the section officer position was held on 27 February, with the results published the following day. Interview dates were then fixed from 1 March, prompting questions over the unusually compressed recruitment timeline.
The controversy has been further fuelled by the number of candidates called for the final stage. Only nine candidates were invited to appear for viva voce for seven vacant posts. 
Standard recruitment practice typically involves shortlisting three candidates per position, which would normally require at least 21 candidates to sit the written examination.
Several applicants say they were left entirely unaware of the process, claiming they received no notification by SMS, phone call or official admit card.
Mujahid Billah, who applied for the Section Officer post, was sharply critical. 
“I applied for the Section Officer post and had no idea when the exam took place or how it was conducted – only to discover later that the recruitment had already been completed,” he said.
Another applicant, a graduate of the University of Dhaka, expressed similar frustration. 
“If you had already selected people beforehand, do not stage the drama of publishing a job circular. We applied with our hard-earned money,” he said.
A graduate of Jagannath University, who applied for two posts and spent more than Tk2,000 in application fees, said he had received no communication from the university about the examination. 
“I did not receive any letter or message regarding the examination,” he said, adding that legal action should be taken against the university.
He also warned of the wider political implications. “This was supposed to be the government’s first major job recruitment under the new administration, and it has already become a disaster. If corruption continues in government job recruitment, it will bring this government to the same fate as the Awami League. Remember – it was the frustration of unemployment that fuelled the movement of July,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
Responding to the allegations, Vice-Chancellor Professor ASM Amanullah told Daily Sun, “We suspended the process after questions were raised. There were indeed lapses on our part. It should have been made clear that the posts were earmarked for internal candidates. We will issue a fresh recruitment circular around June-July.”