Question Paper Leak: Ex-Biman GM, 29 others charged in DSA case

Ex-Biman official Major Taiz Ibne Anowar, 25 employees of the carrier, and four others have been charged in a Digital Security Act case filed in connection with the leak of question paper for a recruitment exam.

Investigation officer Alamgir Hossain Patwary, an inspector of the Detective Branch of police, submitted the charge sheet before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka on Sunday.

According to the charge sheet, Taiz, a former general manager of the ground service equipment department and deputy general manager of the security department, and ground-handling equipment operators Jahangir Alam, Mohammad Masud, and Mahbub Ali led the leaking of the question paper and the sale of it.

Ground-handling equipment operators Mahfuzul Alam and Anamul Haque, office aide Awlad Hossain, workshop helper Jabed Hoassain and employees Harun Or Rashid and Jakir Hossain collected and sold the question paper. Employees Jahid Hasan and Somazu alias Sobahan distributed them, the charge sheet said.

The investigator also found the involvement of ground-handling equipment operators Mohsin Ali, Mizanur Rahman, Faruque Hossain, Nazrul Islam, and Firoz Alam, scheduling supervisor Mahbub Alam Sharif, security guard Ayyub Uddin, traffic helpers Al-Amin, Abdul Malek, and Alamgir Hossain, drivers Abdullah Sheikh and Sazzadul Islam, Biman employees Tapash Kumar Mondol, Biman Flight Catering Centre employee Sultan Hossain, Bangladesh Betar's driver Faruk Hossain, and individuals Murad Sheikh alias Mostafizur Rahman, Jewel Mia and Razib Mollah in the crime.

Among the 30 accused, Mahbub Ali, Awlad, Jahangir, Masud, Jahid, Anamul, Harun, Mahfuzul, Somaju, Jakir and Jabed are in jail and they have made confessional statements before magistrates.

The 19 others, including Major Taiz, are absconding and the investigator, in the charge sheet, appealed to the court to issue arrest warrants against them.

On October 21 last year, Biman was to hold a recruitment exam. The test was suspended around two hours prior to its start since the question paper had been leaked.

Following the incident, DB Sub-Inspector Shoriful Islam filed a case with Biman Bandar Police Station under the Digital Security Act on October 26 that year.

Taiz was removed in January this year after his name surfaced in connection with the leak. He was sent back to Bangladesh Army.

In November last year, the national flag carrier submitted a report to the ministry pointing fingers at Taiz on several issues, including his involvement in the question paper leak.