The government has issued a dozen directives, including biometric identification, to prevent fake candidates from taking part in recruitment exams for all government institutions.
The Ministry of Public Administration today issued the directives through an official memo, instructing all secretaries, divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners to inform their subordinate offices, agencies and other institutions about the matter.
Ministry sources told The Daily Star that the new directives were issued after fraud was recently detected at three stages -- recruitment exam, viva voce and joining -- for several lower-grade posts of the Ministry of Public Administration.
According to the directives, colour photographs taken within a month must be used in job applications. Candidates' applications must be thoroughly scrutinised before the written exam, and bags, books, and devices must not be allowed inside exam centres, with metal detectors used for screening if necessary.
The directives also instructed not to allow entry into centres after the scheduled time, to prohibit those on exam duty from using devices, and to match the candidate's face and other information with the photographs attached to the admit card and attendance sheet.
During the viva voce, the candidate's handwriting must be matched with the answer script. If possible, photographs of all candidates participating in the written exam should be taken and matched with those participating in the subsequent stages. When selected candidates join the service, their joining letters must be issued only after verifying these previously taken photographs.
Prior to the recruitment exam, assistance from law enforcement agencies must be sought, and preparations made to conduct mobile courts or summary trials at the exam centres. If any fake or proxy candidate is identified, legal action must be taken against them through mobile courts, summary trials, or regular cases.
The directives also called for using biometric identification systems and other necessary technologies to prevent fake or proxy candidates.
