Public probe body formed

"Concerned citizens" yesterday formed a "public committee" to investigate allegations that questions of the September 18 medical and dental college admission tests had been leaked.

Eminent economist Prof Anu Muhammad has been made convener of the 17-member body that will start working through a general meeting on October 23 and prepare a report by November 20 before giving it to the government. It urged representatives of the government and demonstrators demanding a retake of the tests to attend a mass hearing in Dhaka University's (DU) Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) cafeteria on October 30 at 4:00pm.

The committee will collect evidences, speak to protesters and government officials and evaluate the question formulation and admission test procedure.

The committee includes barristers Sara Hossain and Jyotirmoy Borua, noted columnist Syed Abul Maksud, IT expert Fida Huq, former BSMMU professor Dr Fazlur Rahman, hydrologist M Inamul Huq, vocalist Mahmuduzzaman Babu and DU teachers Geeti Ara Nasreen, Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan and Samina Lutfa.

"The admission seekers are demonstrating for around a month, but the government has not yet taken any initiative to investigate the allegation," Prof Anu told a press conference in the TSC teachers' lounge. "The public have the right to take action wherever the government fails as they have the constitutional right to sovereignty, so concerned citizens made the committee," he added. Prof Anu hoped that the government would afterwards take appropriate steps.

"The government can not ignore its responsibilities.  Question leak has become ubiquitous…from primary stage to job recruitment test…public monitoring will be strengthening through this mass probe committee," he said.

Eminent jurist and constitution specialist Dr Kamal Hossian assured providing legal assistance, he added.