The University Teachers Link has demanded a fresh review of verification reports and appointment of candidates who were finally recommended for government primary teacher posts.
The University Teachers Link (UTL) has called for the prompt appointment of candidates who were recommended for assistant primary school teacher posts but were later excluded during verification.
In a joint statement on Saturday, September 26, UTL President Professor Dr. Md. Atiar Rahman and General Secretary Professor Dr. Zubair Muhammad Ehsan made the demand.
The organisation also strongly protested allegations that hundreds of candidates in different districts were excluded after verification by the National Security Intelligence (NSI), Special Branch (SB) and District Special Branch (DSB).
According to UTL, the excluded candidates had passed both the written and oral examinations on merit. They were also finally recommended for appointment to government primary schools.
The UTL leaders said that if candidates were later excluded because of verification reports, the specific reasons and legal basis should be made public.
They said verification should not be used for political or ideological discrimination, harassment or selective exclusion.
UTL seeks evidence for exclusion
The organisation said concerns have increased over allegations that people are being denied employment because of their political views, personal beliefs or differences with the government following the July mass uprising.
UTL said that without evidence of a specific offence or legal disqualification, a government job should not be denied based only on assumptions or political identity.
The two leaders also referred to the use of confidential reports in government employment over the past 17 years. They said such practices had affected people’s jobs and future prospects.
They said that if the appointment of a finally recommended candidate is cancelled because of a report from a government agency, the candidate should receive a proper opportunity to know the legal basis and reasons behind the decision.
Concerns over recruitment process
The UTL statement also raised questions about a recent initiative to increase the marks allocated to oral examinations in government recruitment.
The organisation said the government has a responsibility to ensure a transparent, impartial and accountable recruitment system in the post-July period.
It also said government jobs should not be treated as rewards for loyalty to any political party.
UTL said the alleged use of verification to select candidates on ideological grounds conflicts with what it described as the demand for justice and fairness in a new Bangladesh.
Call for fresh verification
UTL has called for an immediate review of the verification reports involving candidates who were excluded despite being recommended for appointment.
The organisation also demanded that proper evidence supporting any allegations be presented. Where necessary, it called for appointments to be completed after fresh investigation.
The next step, according to the organisation’s demand, is a review of the verification reports and the reasons for excluding the recommended candidates.
