Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir on Saturday demanded the removal of the State Minister for Youth and Sports and the Director General of the Department of Youth Development over the reported question paper leak that forced the postponement of a government recruitment examination.
The organisation also demanded an independent investigation, exemplary punishment for those responsible and compensation for affected candidates.
In a joint statement, Shibir President Nurul Islam and Secretary General Sibgatullah condemned the alleged leak in the recruitment examination for the post of Assistant Upazila Youth Development Officer.
They placed four demands and accused the government of failing to ensure transparency and fairness in public-sector recruitment.
"Such irregularities deprive honest and meritorious candidates of equal opportunities and undermine their confidence in the government recruitment system," the statement said.
The leaders said candidates had spent months and even years preparing for the examination, only to see it postponed shortly before it was scheduled to begin.
They described the incident as deeply frustrating for job seekers and incompatible with the promise of building a merit-based, discrimination-free state.
"Instead of ensuring employment opportunities based on merit, question paper leaks and fraud push the future of young people into uncertainty," they said.
Shibir also questioned the BNP government's handling of recruitment controversies during its first eight months in office.
The statement cited the exclusion of candidates from the final Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) gazette, recruitment being withheld in the name of police verification and a controversial recommendation to increase viva voce marks by 400%.
The latest question paper leak, the leaders said, had raised further questions about the government's commitment to establishing a discrimination-free state.
They alleged that the recruitment system continued to operate through structures inherited from the previous administration.
"During the fascist regime, question paper leaks and irregularities became a recurring feature of recruitment examinations conducted by the Public Service Commission and other government agencies," the statement said.
Shibir claimed that retaining the old establishment to serve narrow partisan interests had allowed such irregularities to continue.
"The continuation of past irregularities and political favouritism in recruitment has no place in the new Bangladesh," the leaders said.
They insisted that recruitment decisions must be based solely on qualifications, skills and merit, rather than political affiliation or undue influence.
Shibir's first demand calls for an impartial investigation to identify everyone involved in the alleged question paper leak.
It wants legal action under applicable laws, a speedy trial and exemplary punishment for those found guilty.
Second, the organisation demanded the immediate removal of the State Minister for Youth and Sports and the Director General of the Department of Youth Development.
It said both officials should be relieved of their duties over administrative failures to ensure an independent investigation.
Third, Shibir demanded appropriate compensation for candidates affected by the examination's postponement, particularly to cover their travel expenses.
Its fourth demand calls for an overhaul of the existing recruitment establishment to ensure the appointment of honest, qualified and meritorious individuals.
The organisation also urged the government to introduce modern, technology-based security systems for preparing, storing and distributing examination papers.
Such measures, it said, were necessary to prevent future leaks and restore public confidence in government recruitment.
Shibir maintained that political influence and partisan considerations must be removed from the recruitment process.
"Qualifications, skills and merit must be the sole criteria for recruitment," the statement said.