Fake Degrees Rock Bangladesh Civil Service

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to initiate criminal proceedings against three civil servants accused of securing prestigious Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) posts by submitting forged academic certificates and false information. The officials, belonging to the Administration and Foreign Service cadres, are alleged to have used fraudulent bachelor’s degree credentials during the recruitment process conducted by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

The decision follows the completion of an internal investigation by the PSC, which found credible evidence that the accused individuals had misrepresented their educational qualifications. On Tuesday, the ACC’s Director General (Prevention), Md Akhtar Hossain, disclosed the findings at a media briefing held at the commission’s headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka.

According to the ACC, the accused officers deliberately submitted counterfeit bachelor’s degree certificates and misleading personal information to meet the eligibility criteria for the BCS examinations. These actions, investigators say, directly undermined the integrity of the country’s most competitive and respected public recruitment system.

The three officials named in the case are Sanjay Das, appointed through the 38th BCS to the Administration Cadre; Sukanta Kundu, selected via the 41st BCS, also in the Administration Cadre; and Abu Saleh Md Musa, recruited into the Foreign Service Cadre through the 38th BCS. Each of them allegedly benefited from the falsified documents to gain entry into government service.

Details of the accused officers

Md Akhtar Hossain stated that allegations of academic fraud against the three individuals had surfaced several years ago. In response, the PSC conducted a thorough verification of their educational records, cross-checking submitted certificates with university archives and official databases. The investigation concluded that the certificates did not correspond with authentic institutional records, confirming the allegations of forgery.

Based on the PSC’s investigation report and formal recommendations, the ACC has now moved to pursue legal action. Separate cases will be filed against each of the accused under relevant provisions of criminal law and anti-corruption statutes. If the charges are proven in court, the officials could face severe penalties, including dismissal from service, forfeiture of benefits, and possible imprisonment.

The case has reignited debate over transparency and accountability in Bangladesh’s civil service recruitment process. The BCS examination is widely regarded as a gateway to influential positions in public administration and diplomacy, attracting hundreds of thousands of candidates each year. Experts argue that incidents of credential fraud, even if limited in number, risk eroding public trust in the merit-based system.

Governance analysts and former officials have called for stricter verification mechanisms, including digital cross-checking of academic records before final appointments and periodic post-recruitment audits. The ACC, for its part, has indicated that it will continue to work closely with the PSC to detect and deter similar misconduct in the future.

Officials believe the impending cases will serve as a warning that academic fraud in public recruitment will not go unpunished, reinforcing the principle that integrity and merit remain central to public service in Bangladesh.