Allegations of open cheating have surfaced during a Master’s final-year examination under the National University at Mohammadpur Mohila College centre in Dhaka, despite repeated government assurances of “zero tolerance” against malpractice.
Students were allegedly seen using mobile phones and copying answers from others during the examination, according to examinees. No immediate disciplinary action was taken against those involved.
A video of the incident has reached TIMES of Bangladesh. The college principal claimed the footage was old and edited, while several students said parts of it appeared recent.
The allegations have also triggered questions over supervision and enforcement at the centre, with claims that some examination rooms were effectively left unsupervised or poorly monitored.
On 19 April, during a Sociology and Social Work examination in room 202, two teachers reportedly caught a student using a mobile phone to access answers. The teachers –lecturer Abu Saeed and Prof Rokshana Ukil – were later withdrawn from examination duty at the centre.
A teacher, speaking anonymously, said it was “shameful” that action was taken against teachers for stopping cheating, adding that the concerned teacher had been in service for over 30 years.
Abu Saeed said he was not officially assigned to the room. “Officially I was not on duty there, so my involvement cannot be proven on record,” he said.
When asked how he was present without assignment, he said, “The examination committee can assign duties if required.”
Another teacher, Assistant Professor Laboni Roy, who was later assigned to the room, said she refrained from taking action following instructions from authorities and cited concerns over teacher safety and administrative pressure.
Cheating was also reportedly observed in another room during English and Physics examinations.
When contacted, examination committee member lecturer Dabirul Islam questioned how the information was obtained and later said he had not seen the footage, adding he was busy with exam duties. Vice-principal Sheikh Farid Hossain could not be reached for comment.
Vice-principal Farhana Yasmin said she was away on official duty during the incident and later heard of the allegations. She reiterated that the institution was implementing the government’s “zero tolerance” policy on cheating.
Principal Aminul Haque denied the allegations, saying examinations were being conducted under supervision of a National University inspection team. “No incident of cheating took place within our knowledge,” he said.
