A woman who was barred from a job interview for exceeding the age limit has appeared on the final recruitment list for a government welfare survey in northern Bangladesh, raising questions about the selection process.
Sonia Khatun, wife of a former local leader of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was selected as a data collector for the government’s Family Card survey in Lalpur Upazila of Natore district, about 200 kilometers northwest of Dhaka.
The recruitment rules set a maximum age of 40, but Sonia’s national identity card lists her birth year as 1984, making her ineligible.
Sonia, whose candidate roll number was 467, confirmed that she had not attended the mandatory oral examination.
“On the day of the oral examination, they did not allow me to take the test because I was overage,” she said. “The examiner told me that since I was older than 40, it would not be possible to conduct my interview. So I returned without taking the oral examination. But my name appeared in the final results.”
Sonia is married to Touhidul Islam Jenet, a former joint general secretary of the BNP’s Arbab Union unit.
It remains unclear how her name appeared on the final list despite her failure to meet the age requirement and complete the interview. There is no established evidence that her husband’s political connections influenced the selection.
Officials Promise Investigation
Lalpur Upazila Social Services Officer Masud Rana said he was unaware of the discrepancy but would inform higher authorities if an investigation confirmed it.
Lalpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Abir Hossain, the subdistrict’s chief administrative officer, promised an inquiry.
“We will investigate how Sonia Khatun’s name appeared on the final list despite her exceeding the age limit and not being allowed to participate in the oral examination, and take necessary action,” he said.
Authorities have not disclosed whether the discrepancy resulted from an administrative error or deliberate interference.
Recruitment Previously Sparked Violent Protests
The controversy follows violent demonstrations over the recruitment of Family Card survey workers in Natore in August.
On Aug. 12, BNP activists and members of its affiliated student and youth organizations protested recruitment results in Lalpur and neighboring Bagatipara, alleging corruption and favoritism toward supporters of the former ruling Awami League.
The demonstrations escalated into attacks on government offices and employees. Protesters allegedly vandalized administrative facilities, confined officials and assaulted journalists covering the unrest.
On Aug. 13, authorities suspended recruitment results for four subdistricts: Lalpur, Bagatipara, Baraigram and Gurudaspur.
The suspension followed allegations of irregularities and pressure on local administrators.
Government officials subsequently filed complaints accusing BNP-affiliated activists of assault, vandalism and attempts to force the cancellation of recruitment results.
Several senior administrative officials were later transferred or withdrawn from their positions, although authorities did not establish a connection between those changes and the protests.
The latest discrepancy has renewed concerns about transparency in the recruitment process.
The Family Card survey is intended to identify households eligible for government welfare assistance. Authorities have yet to explain how a candidate who did not attend the required interview was included among the successful applicants.
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