Allegations of corruption, nepotism galore

Serious allegations of corruption, irregularities, nepotism and political patronage have marred the recruitment of supervisors and data collectors for the government's 2026 Family Card Census programme across the country.

Particularly serious allegations have surfaced in Bogura, where job seekers claim the selection process was manipulated to favour predetermined candidates.

The controversy has triggered growing resentment among applicants and local political activists, with protests, rallies and memoranda submitted in several upazilas of the district demanding cancellation and review of the recruitment results.

Bogura City Corporation invited applications for 20 supervisors and 199 data collectors to conduct the 45-day Family Card Survey across its 21 wards. The advertisement sought applications from permanent residents of the city corporation with census experience or computer skills, and thousands of candidates applied.


Applicants alleged that a second group of candidates appeared on July 29, after the first groups had already attended the interviews on July 25 and 26.

Although the authorities initially announced that the final list would be published on July 30, the oral examination was later rescheduled for August 2. The results were eventually published on August 10.
Applicants have raised three major allegations over the recruitment process.

First, they questioned the basis of the selection, alleging that thousands of candidates were asked only their name, father's name and whether they could operate a smartphone or tablet during the oral examination. They said it remained unclear how eligibility and merit were assessed on such a limited basis.

Second, they alleged that repeated changes to the examination schedule were intended to facilitate the selection of preferred candidates, as most of the successful candidates were from the last group to attend the viva voce.

Third, questions have been raised over age and legal eligibility. Applicants said the age limit for census workers was 30, but several selected candidates were allegedly above 35. They also alleged that having a criminal case was considered a disqualification, while some selected candidates had cases against them.

One applicant, Umme Hafsa, told The Daily Observer, "They just asked us our name, father's name and whether we can operate a gadget. How was my disqualification and the special qualifications of those who were selected fixed? There has been serious corruption and nepotism here." Another applicant, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that the recruitment had been predetermined. "The name of the exam is all a show. These are pre-determined. Someone I know said before applying that he would stay. He really stayed; we were left out," the applicant claimed.

Repeated attempts by The Daily Observer to contact Md Nurul Islam, member-secretary of the Family Card Census Data Collector and Supervisor Selection Committee, and Begum Mustari Akhter Jahan, the appeal authority and deputy director of the City Social Services Office, for their responses to the allegations went unanswered.