The Department of Youth Development has suspended a recruitment examination for Assistant Upazila Youth Development Officer after allegations of a possible question paper leak emerged ahead of the test.

The decision was taken on Saturday after claims began circulating on social media the night before the examination. The allegations surfaced just hours before candidates were due to sit the test, prompting the department to suspend the process.

Md Mazharul Haque, Assistant Director (Administration-5) at the Department of Youth Development, confirmed the decision to Prothom Alo at around 11.15am on Saturday. He said a new date for the examination would be announced within the next two to three days.

The examination had been scheduled to begin at 11am on Saturday for the 11th-grade post of Assistant Upazila Youth Development Officer. Recruitment was planned for 242 positions, with arrangements in place to hold the examination at approximately 100 centres across Dhaka.

The emergence of the allegations on the eve of the examination raised concerns over whether the test could proceed as planned. Several people reportedly posted claims on social media, bringing the issue to wider public attention shortly before candidates were expected to arrive at their examination centres.

The suspension means candidates will have to wait for the revised schedule and any further instructions from the department. Those preparing for the recruitment test are expected to follow official announcements for confirmation of the new date.

Question paper security is a major concern in public-sector recruitment, where candidates compete for a limited number of positions through formal selection procedures. Any suspected compromise can raise questions about fairness, equal opportunity and confidence in the recruitment process.

However, allegations circulating on social media do not, on their own, establish that a question paper was leaked. The information available at the time of the announcement did not confirm whether the claims were substantiated, and no definitive findings on the alleged leak were reported.

The department’s immediate next step is to announce a revised examination date. Haque said the new schedule would be made public within two to three days, although further details about the circumstances surrounding the allegations were not provided in the initial announcement.

For the 242 vacancies, the recruitment examination is an important stage in the selection process. Candidates will now have to adjust their preparations while awaiting the department’s next announcement. The credibility of the process will depend in part on ensuring that the examination is conducted fairly and that any concerns about the security of the question paper are addressed appropriately.