The July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum has come under scrutiny for initiating recruitment for all positions, including first-class posts, without holding mandatory written examinations and relying solely on oral interviews.
Critics say the move bypasses established recruitment rules, raising concerns about transparency and fairness ahead of the national elections scheduled for 12 February.
Museum authorities, however, say the process follows regulations and has received approval to speed up recruitment.
According to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the museum published a recruitment notice on 28 January for 96 positions across Grades 6 to 20.
Applications were accepted online until 4 February, and thousands of candidates applied based on their educational qualifications.
On 5 February, only a select group of applicants received mobile messages inviting them to attend oral interviews on 8 February.
Not all applicants were called, heightening concerns about favouritism and possible preselection.
The recruitment rules, outlined in the July Uprising Memorial Museum Ordinance 2025, mandate written examinations for all posts.
Candidates are required to sit tests covering Bengali, English, mathematics, general knowledge, or relevant technical subjects.
Only those who pass written and practical examinations are eligible for oral interviews.
However, the regulations also allow authorities to relax recruitment conditions for individuals with special qualifications, considering the institution’s specialised nature.
Museum Director General (additional charge) Tanzim Wahab defended the oral-only recruitment process, saying it fully complies with recruitment policies and regulations.
“Sub-clause 3 of clause 3 permits the relaxation of recruitment conditions for candidates with special qualifications. The president condoned the recruitment process to help the specialised museum begin operations quickly,” he told TBS.
He said oral interviews are being used to directly assess candidates’ administrative skills, communication abilities, presence of mind and ability to handle real-life situations.
However, observers say bypassing written examinations for first-class and revenue-funded posts is a significant departure from standard administrative practice and raises concerns about merit-based selection and legal risks.
A senior official from the Ministry of Public Administration, speaking on condition of anonymity, criticised the approach, saying skipping written examinations for revenue-funded positions is against administrative norms and could make appointments legally contestable.
“Written tests are mandatory for revenue posts. Replacing them with oral interviews for first-class positions is unusual and raises concerns about fairness and transparency,” the official said.
Some candidates said they did not receive interview notifications, while others alleged that certain names had already been considered for final selection, further fuelling concerns about the transparency of the process.
Critics argue that the rush to complete recruitment has led to selective notification of candidates and preselection, undermining confidence in the process.
