All the 38 candidates who appeared for the village police recruitment test in Panchagarh’s Tetulia could not write the national anthem and also failed the written examination.
The test was held at 10am on Wednesday in Tetulia Upazila Parishad hall room to fill vacant posts in four unions of the upazila.
According to the upazila administration, recruitment was initiated for five posts of village police (mahalladar) in Tirnaihat, Tetulia, Shalbahan, and Debnagar union parishads.
The exam began with check-up of physical fitness. Later, as part of merit assessment, the recruitment committee asked all candidates to write the national anthem within 15 minutes. However, none of them could write it correctly and completely.
As a result, all candidates were declared unsuccessful, and the committee could not finalise recruitment for the posts.
Tetulia Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and recruitment committee chairman Afroze Shahin Khosru expressed surprise. He said, “It is very unfortunate that none of the candidates could correctly write our national anthem. Basic knowledge and a sense of patriotism are essential for such appointments.”
The failure shocked other officials who were present there. Many locals said this was the first time all candidates failed a written test in such recruitment exams. Conscious citizens stressed the need to ensure minimum educational and general knowledge standards for those entrusted with the responsibilities of village police.
Meanwhile, the recruitment committee has been praised for conducting the process strictly on merit. Officials said the recruitment will be held again later since no candidate qualified this time.
