Amid allegations of widespread corruption, the candidates' medical test that started on April 7 was declared postponed on April 18, 2007 while an investigation of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), a military intelligence agency, is going on.

The DGFI primarily found evidence of gross irregularities, corruption, and bribery centring the 27th BCS examinations and the caretaker government postponed the medical test of the BCS on the basis of DGFI report, sources in DGFI said.

It is widely alleged that in exchange of huge amount of bribes, a section of unscrupulous PSC officials acted behind the success of most of the 3,567 candidates who passed the examinations.

Most of them were not selected on the basis of their merit, claimed several PSC sources while the PSC chairman and members termed the allegation 'absolutely false and baseless'.

Of over 1.43 lakh examinees at the preliminary test held on November 18, 2005, some 26,500 candidates took the written examinations held in March-April, 2006 and 16,342 candidates attended the viva voce held between September and December the same year.

A Daily Star investigation detected some irregularities in the 27th BCS examinations and found that a group of officials and employees are accused of receiving bribes from aspirant candidates on behalf of the PSC's top office bearers.

The result sheets of the preliminary, written and final tests of the 27th BCS examinations clearly show suspicious patterns, indicating manipulation of the results to favour certain candidates.

Besides, viva voce was grossly used to pick certain candidates while disqualifying others. The viva voce for 100 marks usually adds with total marks of written examinations. As the pass mark in the viva voce is 40, a candidate getting below it in the viva voce disqualifies for the selection even if they score highest marks in the written examinations.

A large number of candidates who scored well in the written examinations were given below 40 marks in the viva voce, as they did not pay bribe, sources said.

"Out of 16,342 candidates taking viva voce test, around 5,000 who scored well in written examinations were given below the 40 marks," said an official who termed the matter a record in the history of PSC.

Sources also said a large number of bribe-offering candidates were placed before certain viva boards that gave them pass scores. To ensure interview with the particular boards on certain dates, candidates were asked to report as 'sick' and produce medical certificates.

Not a single viva candidate on October 12, 2006 and November 28, 2006 was successful. But 64 candidates in a batch of 250 on November 12, 2006 were given pass scores and offered jobs under different cadres.

Competent sources in the PSC said the corrupt syndicate had offered a 'package deal' to those 64 candidates assuring them of success at the preliminary, written and viva voce levels. "Each candidate paid Tk 8 to 12 lakh for ensuring job in their expected cadres," a PSC official said on condition of anonymity.

A few PSC directors pointed out that the question pattern of written psychological examination for 50 marks and the intelligence tests, vital part of the viva voce, were not prepared according to the government's new notification-2005.

"The viva is supposed to determine the intelligence level. In the past we used to have a written psychology test for 100 marks, which was evaluated independently. After 2005, we slashed the written test mark to 50 and added an intelligence test component in the viva sessions," said a director.

A PSC source said bribes were transacted through joint bank accounts. It was alleged that Tk 12 crore collected from different aspirant candidates as bribe is deposited with an account of Sonali Bank PSC branch while another Tk 3 crore, collected in the same way, is kept in an account of a private bank.

In response to a query about the said account with the Sonali Bank PSC Branch, a responsible officer said, "I cannot tell you anything in this regard. Our regulations do not permit it."

PSC Member Prof Ashraful Islam, who worked as the chairman of 27th BCS Examinations, admitted the existence of a corrupt syndicate.

"I informed intelligence agencies about the syndicate and asked them to identify and take stern action against the responsible persons but the BNP-Jamaat alliance government did not take any measure," Prof Ashraful told The Daily Star.

He, however, denied the allegation of his involvement with the syndicate.

Suspicious roll numbers
Viva voce tests were taken from September 10, 2006 to December 21, 2006.

As many as 64 successful candidates who were selected under a 'package deal' had roll numbers that ranged from 52,001 to 54, 299 and they faced viva voce on November 12, 2006.

The 64 candidates include 23 for administration cadre, 15 for education, 10 for police.

It is also a strange coincidence that the PSC invited only 38 candidates for the viva under two viva boards on November 12, and 17 came out successful.

The 17 candidates' roll numbers ranged from 54,001 to 54,100.

In another incredible instance, the PSC gave pass marks to only nine out of 250 appearing at the viva voce on October 15. Interestingly, all of the nine were engineering students.

At the November 11 viva voce, only two candidates passed and were offered jobs in Foreign Service while 248 candidates failed.

Only one or two candidates were finally selected on many viva days as on September 13 and October 3.

Allegations of bribery
A successful candidate was offered service under the taxation cadre following September 10 viva voce. A PSC source claimed that this was done in exchange of Tk 12 lakh in bribe.

“A total of 25 candidates including four from the administration cadre and four from the education cadre in 24th, 25th and 26th BCS, and three Bangladesh Bank assistant directors faced viva voce on September 10, 2006 at a viva board but only one was selected for the taxation cadre, allegedly paying Tk 12 lakh as bribe,” a candidate who faced viva voce on that day told this correspondent.

“A candidate from Satkhira who faced viva voce on September 17, 2006, paid Tk 6 lakh to a syndicate through a joint account and finally qualified for the post of an ASP,” a syndicate member said.

Another candidate from Brahmanbaria district gave Tk 21 lakh to the syndicate under the 'package deal' from preliminary to viva voce and was finally selected for police cadre.

A candidate of Panchagarh who faced viva voce at a board led by the PSC chairman, was allegedly selected for the administration cadre by paying Tk 5 lakh.

Question leak
As many as 98 of the 112 'leaked' multiple choice questions (MCQs) of the preliminary test of the 27th BCS were found to be authentic and the matter was published in most of the dailies on November 19, 2005.

Despite widespread evidence of leaking of question papers of written examinations, especially Bangla 1st and 2nd papers, English 2nd paper, Bangladesh Affairs 1st and 2nd papers, and Everyday Science and Technology, the PSC summarily denied the allegation, claiming the complaints absolutely 'false and baseless'.

There is another serious allegation that some written examination papers were brought from outside by the syndicate members after written examination schedule.

Amid pressure, lobbying and bribery, the PSC finally selected 3,567 candidates for the cadres through the 27th BCS although it mentioned 1,776 vacant posts in the advertisement.

PSC Member Prof Ashraful Islam, chairman of 27th BCS Examinations, however, said they increased the number of posts as per the direction of the Ministry of Establishment.