The job “verification” trap

Mohammad Ashraful Islam was elated. He not only passed the exam for the Junior Officer position at the Sadharan Bima Corporation (SBC) this year, but also secured first position on the merit list. The results were published on January 15th. He had planned his life around this job, having recently married and preparing to finally settle down. But when appointment letters were issued to everyone else, his never arrived.

Days of anxious phone calls turned into weeks of evasion. Finally, after confronting an HR official in July, Ashraful received a verbal, unofficial explanation: his background check suggested "Awami League involvement or Awami ideology." 

He was devastated. "When this happened, my entire [life] plan was upended. I couldn't continue my BCS written exams this year [July-August], and I missed several other job opportunities."  

And the irony was crushing. In light of this “verification” tag, Ashraful compiled screenshots of his social media activity critical of the previous regime. He had also actively participated in anti-government movements, including the protests for road safety in 2018, where he was injured; substantiated by photos and video clips. He shared all this with SBC. However, his proof that he was anti-Awami was dismissed. The daunting reality was laid bare: The state's ambiguous "verification" process had deemed him politically unsuitable, and merit did not matter.

Netra News sought official comment from the Sadharan Bima Corporation regarding the allegations of political influence in their recruitment process but SBC failed to provide a response. 

Ashraful’s case reflects how the final administrative hurdle in Bangladesh’s government job recruitment often transforms from a standard background check into a political screening, leaving highly qualified candidates feeling discriminated against by the state itself.  While such political vetting was a common and cynical practice of previous governments, job applicants did not expect its continuation. 

Beyond Sadharan Bima Corporation, Netra News found similar cases among applicants for jobs in Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) and Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB); tracing at least ten individuals in total.  

The great BCS dream

For many, the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) exam is the pinnacle of ambition. Shah Mohammad Moazzem, a recommended candidate for the 43rd BCS as an Upazila Fisheries Officer, represents the human cost of this system. "We all want to know the invisible reason why we haven't been allowed to join the service," Moazzem said. "Socially, we, who have been excluded, are ultimately being insulted. We are certainly victims of discrimination. Ultimately, by the state, by the government."

The 43rd BCS, announced in 2020, culminated in 2,163 recommendations in December 2023. On October 15th 2024, the interim government appointed 2,064 candidates to cadre posts, while the results of 99 candidates were put on hold. They were scheduled to join their respective posts on November 17th.

On October 17th, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said, at a press conference at the party chairperson's office in Gulshan, "Without conducting a comprehensive background check, this decision and the appointment process of the interim government, which was established at the cost of countless lives in the historic uprising of the student masses, have left people extremely shocked and disappointed and have created great anger and resentment among the people…the 43rd BCS recruitment drive is underway to fill higher positions in the government administration of that terrorist organisation [Chattra League].”

On October 28th, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification delaying the joining date from November 17th to January 1st 2025. But, on December 30th, the ministry released a new gazette excluding 227 candidates — and in effect rendering the previous gazette invalid. 

Despite subsequent protests, on May 20th 2025, the interim government appointed 162 candidates, excluding 65 candidates without any explanation.

On the other hand, the interim government appointed 259 candidates who had been excluded from the 28th to the 42nd BCS during the Awami League’s tenure. "This government always says it wants to ensure transparency and accountability," said Kanjilal Roy Jibon, one of the 65 excluded candidates. “So where is the transparency here? I won't know why I was excluded?”

Kanjilal Roy Jibon said he has been working as a research and economic policy officer in the Bangladesh Water Development Board since March 7th last year. “Even more interesting is that my job was made permanent two months ago in July [2025] by the interim government. If I am involved in any seditious activity, then why is the government keeping me in a free environment when I have an intelligence report? This proves that I am not a seditious person… Still, this government excluded me.”

Irfan, who was recommended for the Information Cadre in the 43rd BCS, was gazetted and then excluded. “Coming to this stage in life, I feel that maybe my decision was wrong. If I had gone abroad, I might have had a smoother life, where I could build my life based on merit and hard work, and perhaps not lose what I earned through my efforts.”

Irfan claimed that he has no affiliation with any student political organisation and his family has no connection with the Awami League. He demanded a proper investigation. Irfan currently serves in the 41st Education Cadre.

Professor Borhan Uddin Khan, from the Law Department at Dhaka University, said, “The Constitution ensures equal rights for all — above religion, caste, politics, and everything else.” Under the law, Article 29 of the Constitution guarantees equal opportunity for all citizens in public employment; and the Government Service Act, 2018, mandates open competition based on merit and qualifications.

New recruitment at the Water Board 

At the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), 25 candidates, all recommended for appointment as Assistant Engineer (Civil) — including Pulak Deb Palash, who stood first in the merit list — have been in limbo for over a year. Despite an initial verification and a subsequent re-verification, their appointments have not materialised.

Despite this cohort of 25 successful candidates awaiting clearance, the BWDB has proceeded to advertise for 50 new engineers for the exact same position in March this year. "We are not being told what they will do with our appointments," said Nur-E-Alam Siddique, one of the 25 candidates. "We have met with the officials many times, and they say it has become a political issue."

A copy of the intelligence report for BWDB obtained by Netra News revealed comments labeling candidates for government jobs with phrases like "Awami League sympathiser" or "Awami-minded." In a subsequent interview on September 24th this year, adviser for the Ministry of Water Resources, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, confirmed the issue of intelligence reports, stating the Ministry requires "detailed reports" while acknowledging the sensitivity of such matters in a time of political transition.

“When the issue of the intelligence agency's report comes up, we have to review it very carefully,” the adviser explained. “Now a judicial process is underway in the country, so when certain questions arise, we have to look into it.” 

She added, “There was another batch with them, where there were nine people. Their jobs were also held up based on the intelligence report, and I let those go, but these [25 candidates] are not being let go. A more detailed report is needed, so I have asked for it.”

Pulak, whose family has no political ties, said, "We are the batch of Abrar [Fahad], a BUETian who was brutally tortured and murdered in 2019 at BUET; we were the ones who opposed the Chhatra League. And no one in my family has any political affiliation."

A crisis of governance

Experts warn that this continuation of political vetting poses a threat to the nation's future.

"This continuation of the practice — where qualified candidates are deprived and politically acceptable ones are given opportunities based on party identity — is not acceptable," says Ifthekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB). He notes that while previous governments have engaged in partisan recruitment, this system was expected to change after the massive anti-discrimination movement.

"If this continues, that very autocracy will strike back," he warns. "It’s a hindrance to good governance, an aid to corruption, and a facilitator of the abuse of power."

This inherited systemic crisis, where merit and years of hard work are rendered irrelevant by opaque political screening, means the fundamental constitutional right to equal employment remains tragically compromised. Regrettably, signalling the interim government’s wholesale failure to reform the job verification cycle.