Job at museum in July without written exam

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has initiated a hurried recruitment drive at the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum. However, questions about transparency, fairness, and legal compliance have surfaced regarding the selection process. Allegations have emerged that candidates for revenue-funded positions are being appointed solely through oral interviews (viva voce), bypassing the written examinations mandated under the museum’s own regulations.

Despite provisions in the museum’s rules stipulating that written exams must precede interviews, preparations have apparently proceeded directly to viva voce assessments. Some candidates have received SMS notifications about their viva schedule, while others report receiving no such communication. With the national election scheduled just four days later, this rushed recruitment process has drawn sharp criticism from applicants.

The recruitment drive was announced on 28 January, covering 62 posts across grades six to twenty. The museum, established on the site of the former state residence of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following the July uprising, operates under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

Breakdown of Vacancies by Grade:

While experience criteria are imposed for grade six posts, the remaining positions require only the basic educational qualifications. Remarkably, candidates can secure government employment across multiple grades purely through oral interviews, with no written tests. Provisions even allow for “special exemptions” for highly qualified candidates.

According to the museum’s official regulations, written examinations are mandatory and cover Bengali, English, Mathematics, General Knowledge, or relevant technical subjects. A minimum score of 50 per cent is required to qualify for the oral interview. Skipping this step, therefore, constitutes a clear breach of established rules.

Sources indicate that notices, syllabi, and schedules for the written tests were never issued. Instead, a list of candidates for viva voce was prepared directly, effectively making the recruitment process dependent solely on interviews. A senior official from the Ministry of Public Administration confirmed that conducting viva voce without written exams is a direct violation of the museum’s own rules.

Experts in public administration have warned that appointments to revenue-funded positions without written assessments not only contravene administrative norms but may also risk annulment in the future. They emphasised that viva voce alone cannot ensure merit-based, transparent selection.

Critics further point out inconsistencies in the communication of interview schedules. Several applicants claimed they had neither received messages nor were summoned for the viva, while a select few were called, raising concerns about bias and potential manipulation.

The museum’s director, Tanzim Ibne Wahab, maintains that the recruitment process complies fully with the museum’s regulations and that viva voce is the final step. However, the lack of clarity regarding “special exemptions” and selective candidate notifications has left applicants and experts questioning the process’s fairness and legitimacy.

In sum, the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum’s recruitment drive—conducted without the required written exams and heavily reliant on oral interviews—has sparked serious doubts over transparency, legality, and impartiality. Analysts warn that without strict adherence to established procedures, the process may inadvertently open doors to nepotism, manipulation, and financial irregularities.