HT Imam’s remarks spark criticism

Staff Reporter :The recent remarks by Prime Minister’s adviser HT Imam have sparked widespread criticism. Even the ruling party leaders have become embarrassed. The PM’s political advisor has been facing sharp criticism for his comments on recruitment of government officials and the pro-Awami League officials’ role during the Januray-5 election.Addressing a function of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) on Wednesday, HT Imam assured the BCL men of their jobs in the government offices if they could pass the written test in the BCS examination. “We’ll see how much we can help you in the viva voce.” he said. About the advantage of having party men in the administration, he said, “The pro-AL officials were inducted in mobile courts before the January 5 polls that helped us retain power. I contacted with officials in every upazila and they stood beside us.” Sharply reacting to the remarks, BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday claimed that their hunch about manipulation in any election under the Awami League government has been proved. “We said earlier that the AL was trying to hold a stage-managed election by using the Election Commission. HT Imam cleared it,” he said in a press briefing at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office in the city. The BNP leader further said that such remark by an influential government man demonstrates the sorry condition of the administration. About the getting of 1st class jobs, he said that HT Imam had exposed the government’s extreme politicisation. “As per the Constitution, there is no discrepancy over providing government jobs, but now no one, except BCL men will get the government jobs. It is a complete violation of the constitution,” he also said. Meanwhile, AL senior leader Suranjit Sengupta criticised HT Imam for his controversial remarks and asked him to be careful before making any comment. “We have to remember that the Public Service Commission (PSC) is an independent institution. Everyone has an equal opportunity to sit in BCS examination under it,” he said it at a rally in the city. He also said that his party’s victory in the January-5 polls should not be attributed to any persons or institution. The people re-elected the Awami League, as the party believes in democracy, he claimed. Country’s imminent citizens and academics also censured HT Imam’s remarks. They said, the remarks are violation of the Constitution and these will increase frustration among the meritorious students. Former VC of Dhaka University Prof Dr Emajuddin Ahmed said, it seems that HT Imam wants the country’s administration to be run by illiterate and unskilled people. If the government accepts his suggestions, the meritorious students of the country will be frustrated, he said. DU professor emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury said that such remarks would create mistrust about PSC. The meritorious students would be demoralised, while the recruiting authority would be under pressure and the ruling-party men would feel comfort, he added. Former PSC member Mohammad Mohabbat Khan said, the remarks would make people suspect that the government might have a plan to make recruitments mainly on political consideration. He termed the comments as unconstitutional. The Article 29 (1) of the Constitution says that ‘there shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in respect of employment or office in the service of the republic’.BCS examination is a nationwide competitive examination. It is conducted in three phases – a 200-mark preliminary examination, 900-mark written examinations and 200-mark viva voce. A significant number of candidates become unsuccessful in the last two exams. The 35th BCS preliminary examination will be held on February 6. A total of 2,44,107 applicants will sit for the examination, which is the highest in BCS examination history.