Allegations of politicization and nepotism have surfaced over the recruitment of supervisors and data collectors for the Family Card census in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur.
Locals alleged that the wife of a local BNP leader, the upazila Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) president and relatives of BNP leaders and activists were given preference despite assurances that recruitment would be based on merit. The issue has also drawn criticism on social media.
According to the Mithapukur Upazila Social Services Office, a notice was issued on July 25 for recruiting supervisors and data collectors in 17 unions. A total of 670 people applied for supervisor posts and around 3,243 for data collector positions.
The selection was supposed to be based on practical skills, GPA, conduct and viva performance. The final results, published on Aug. 10, selected 214 data collectors and 21 supervisors.
An investigation found that Tajmun Nahar, wife of Mithapukur upazila BNP Organizing Secretary Mojahidul Islam, was selected as supervisor in Ranipukur Union. Upazila JCD President Md Mahmudul Hasan was selected in Durgapur Union, while Md Miraj Ahmed, cousin of upazila BNP President Golam Rabbani, was selected in Bara Hazratpur Union.
Other supervisors included journalist Bablur Rahman Bari in Kafrikhal Union; Rezwana Sharmin Prapti, daughter of Pairaband Union BNP President Abdur Rouf Sarker; Sumaiya Khatun, sister of anti-discrimination student movement leader Awlad; and Mojahidul Haque, former vice-president of the Rangpur metropolitan unit of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, in Chengmari and Bhangni unions respectively.
Several people linked to BNP and JCD were also selected as data collectors. They included Rangpur district JCD member Shafiul Islam Shimul and Fahmida Akter Mim, Mehedi Hasan Fuad and Fahima Akter Lima, nephew and niece of BNP leader Golam Rabbani.
Nine people from Chithli Dakshinpara village alone were selected.
Other selected data collectors included Nowrin Jahan Nizum, daughter of BNP leader Hazrat Ali; two nieces and a sister of Nilphamari Water Development Board office assistant Shafiqul Islam; and Alpana Begum, wife of an office assistant at the UNO’s office.
Mahmudul Hasan denied political considerations, saying he was selected on merit. Shafiul Islam Shimul also said he qualified on merit and denied that Fahmida Akter Mim was his girlfriend, calling the allegation baseless.
Golam Rabbani denied recommending relatives, saying Chithli Dakshinpara is a large, densely populated village and that the administration made the selections entirely on merit.
Ordinary applicants alleged that they were deceived by assurances of merit-based recruitment and that the process was politicized.
Abdul Hakim, member secretary of the selection committee and Upazila Social Services Officer, said the results were based entirely on merit. He said 34 officials conducted viva examinations through 17 boards.
Attempts to contact UNO Md Parvez for comment were unsuccessful. He also did not respond to a WhatsApp message.
Rangpur-5 MP Gholam Rabbani said the UNO had assured him that recruitment would be based entirely on merit.
“I have heard that 11 people from a single village were selected. I will speak directly with the UNO to find out what happened,” he said.