A recruitment scandal has surfaced at Jahangirnagar University involving a staff member accused of accepting Tk 20 lakh in exchange for securing a position for an applicant. The accused, Md. Abul Kalam Hawlader, a former general secretary of the university's employ association and a staff member in the Botany department, allegedly took the money to influence the hiring process for an assistant horticulturist position.
The recruitment board, however, never convened, leaving Hawlader in a tight spot. Despite returning the money after mediation by the university’s top officials, no formal legal action has been taken against him.
In 2022, Jahangirnagar University published a job notice for the position of Assistant Horticulturist under the Faculty of Biological Sciences. Due to a lack of suitable candidates, the position remained vacant.
A year later, in July 2023, the university reissued the job notice, this time inviting candidates with degrees in agriculture, horticulture, or arboriculture to apply. Hawlader allegedly sought to take advantage of this opportunity.
According to reports, Hawlader demanded Tk 30 lakh initially from Ramesa Rifat Roza, a former student of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University’s Agriculture Faculty, to secure the horticulturist position. After negotiations, the sum was settled at Tk 20 lakh, which was transferred via bank to Hawlader.
The recruitment board failed to meet even after a year, amid the upheaval caused by the nationwide quota reform movement and subsequent changes in the university’s administration. Realizing the job might not materialize, Ramesa’s family pressed Hawlader to return the money.
Hawlader initially returned Tk 900,000 but delayed returning the remaining amount. On August 29, Ramesa’s husband sought help from the former Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, Dr. Md. Nuhu Alam, to resolve the matter.
Dr. Alam immediately called in key university officials, including Acting Registrar Dr. A.B.M. Azizur Rahman and Deputy Registrar (Legal) Mahtab-uz-Zahid. In a meeting at the Dean’s office, Hawlader admitted to the transaction, apologized, and promised to return the remaining funds. On September 1, he repaid the rest of the money via bank transfer.
Dr. Alam confirmed the incident, saying, "I had no involvement in recruitment-related financial dealings throughout my career. When Habibur (Ramesa’s husband) approached me, I promptly informed the Registrar and Legal Officer, instructing them to take action against Hawlader." He added that he wanted to file a formal complaint, but the legal officer advised that only the person who paid the bribe, in this case, Ramesa’s family, could file such a complaint. Since they had recovered their money, they chose not to pursue the matter further.
Multiple university staff members have alleged that Hawlader has long been involved in bribery and job placement schemes, often leveraging his close connections with influential teachers.
The university's pro vice-chancellor (administration), Dr. Sohel Ahmed, acknowledged the allegations, saying they are aware of the situation. A committee will be formed to investigate and ensure appropriate action is taken against all those involved, he said.
As of now, Abul Kalam Hawlader has not been available for comment. Repeated attempts to contact him were unsuccessful, with Hawlader citing illness and avoiding further communication.
