Ensure fair constable recruitment

The recruitment of 9,680 police constables began on June 22 and will run until July 9. An unfortunate fact in this process is that prospective candidates, from low middle-class backgrounds, are afraid of attending the recruitment competition because they cannot afford to bribe anyone. Most of the poor guardians are indifferent in encouraging their sons to apply for such jobs, in spite of qualifications. As a result, they are being deprived of the opportunity. It is mostly the financially well-off who gain a foothold by manipulating the process extra-judicially. But bribery and corruption is punishable by the law in Bangladesh; it is imperative that law enforcement ensures the ethical quotient is maintained. Given that such recruit processes are far too often tainted with unethical practices such as bribery, corruption and fraud, such institutions need to be sternly reminded that transparent practices are not only required by the law, but also the moral thing to do.

It is simply unfair and unacceptable that only those from affluent backgrounds will be considered in a recruitment process. Merit and talent go unnoticed, when these should be the most important factors in question during evaluation. It is, thus, my humble request to the government to take stern action against those responsible for creating a corrupt system, and impose the necessary restrictions to make constable recruitment a process that everyone, regardless of their financial background, can participate in.