A college teacher from Jamalpur has been accused of taking money from a student in exchange for passing marks after reviewing the student’s exam script. The incident took place on 23 April 2022, but an audio clip of the phone conversation has recently surfaced.
The accused teacher, Samsu Salehin Khan Raton, is an assistant professor in the Management Department at Mahamuda Salam Mohila College in Sarishabari, Jamalpur.
TIMES of Bangladesh has received the phone call record between the student and the teacher where the amount was settled but could not forensically verify the authenticity of the recording.
According to the victim, who requested anonymity, sat for his second-year bachelor’s examination in 2022. During the business communication exam, he wrote his personal phone number as part of the response to question No 9, which required writing a CV.
Soon after, a man identifying himself as one of the examiners called him, claiming that he had failed the exam. He said the student could still pass if he paid a certain amount of money.
Initially, the teacher demanded Tk2,000 but later agreed to Tk1,000 after negotiation. The money was sent to the teacher’s personal bKash number, the student confirmed.
The victim currently studies in the management department at a government college in Jashore.
In the 6-minute and 22-second audio conversation obtained by this correspondent, the teacher can be heard saying: “I am checking your Business Communication script. I found your number, so I called. Send some money and I will give you good marks. If you retake the exam, you’ll spend even more. Give that cost to me instead.”
He then provided his personal bKash number and instructed the student to send the money in the evening.
When contacted using the same number, the teacher initially denied involvement and hung up, claiming it was a wrong number.
However, a subsequent check linked the number to his Facebook profile under the name Samsu Salehin Raton, confirming his identity.
During a second call, he admitted the conversation was a small mistake and requested forgiveness, saying: “This time, please let it go,” he told TIMES of Bangladesh.
When asked about the allegations, college principal Md Akhtaruzzaman confirmed that Samsu Salehin Khan Raton is a faculty member in the Management Department.
However, he claimed no official complaint had been made and said: “Teachers have no access to individual exam scripts or contact with specific students. If such an act has occurred, it is a punishable offence. We will investigate the matter and take necessary action.”
The victim student said he felt pressured and humiliated. “We study to build a better future. Instead, I was forced to pay a bribe just to pass. This is destroying trust in education,” he said.
