Hundreds got admitted in medical colleges through question leaks

Highlights

• Racket helped hundreds of meritless students get admission
• CID keepingseveral gang members under surveillance
• Severalculpritsare teaching at various medical colleges
• DGHS officials will be interrogated over question leaks
• Letters will be sent to medical colleges for canceling studentships

Hundreds of undeserving students have managed to get admitted in various medical colleges across the country with the help of question papers leaked by a well-connected racket.

Through their illegal activities, the racket – led by the brothers Abdus Salam and Jasim Uddin Bhuiyan Munna – also smashed the dreams of countless brilliant students who could have become capable healthcare professionals.

Crime Investigation Department (CID) officials told The Business Standard on Sunday that they are making a list of students who have got admission in different medical colleges with the gang's help.

The officials added that they have learned the names of several people who were medical college students five years ago and have been involved with the racket since 2013. Presently, most of them are serving as teachers in various medical colleges.

The CID is now keeping around six-seven teachers – suspected to be involved with the racket – under surveillance.

The racket's masterminds Abdus Salam – a machine operator at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) press at Mohakhali – and his cousin Jasim Uddin Bhuiyan Munna own two luxurious houses in Dhaka, said CID sources.

The duo has amassed hundreds of crores of taka in five years by leaking medical admission test questions. They have around 200 members in a nationwide syndicate that leaked medical admission test question papers from 2013 to 2018 from the DGHS press.

Jasim was arrested recently, but Salam is still on the run.

Kamrul Ahsan, additional superintendent of CID said, "We have much information about medical question paper leaks. We are now interrogating the mastermind Jasim Uddin and three others of the gang after taking them on remand.

"Hundreds of students got admitted in different medical colleges with the help of the gang. After investigation, the CID will issue letters to medical colleges for cancelling their studentship."

In 2017, the CID launched an investigation into the Dhaka University admission test question paper leak. After completing the investigation, the CID submitted a charge sheet against 125 people.

Among them,47people were arrested in the case, and 46 accused confessed before the court about their involvement in the admission test question paper leak. The Dhaka University authorities expelled 63 students on January 14 this year for their involvement in the matter.

CID sources said Abdus Salam of the DGHS press used to leak medical and dental admission questions.

Salam was suspended for allegedly leaking medical exam questions but high officials cancelled his suspension after a few months. Several influential officers of the DGHS are allegedly involved in the racket and have been sheltering Salam.

CID plans to interrogate the DGHS officials over the matter. It is also investigating the properties of racket members. After investigation, those properties will be confiscated under the money laundering act, said sources.

On July 23, a team of CID police arrested four members of the racket over medical question paper leaks. The arrestees are kingpin of the gang Jasim Uddin Bhuiyan Munna, Parvez Khan, Jakir Hossen Dipu and Samiul Zafar.