Cadre Posts Secured with Fake Certificates, Cases Filed Against Three

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to file criminal cases against three serving civil servants accused of securing positions in the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) by submitting forged academic certificates and false information. The accused officials belong to the Administration and Foreign Service cadres, two of the most influential branches of the civil service, making the allegations particularly serious and far-reaching.

The decision follows the confirmation of evidence obtained through an internal investigation conducted by the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC), the constitutional body responsible for recruiting civil servants. According to the findings, the officials concerned allegedly submitted fake undergraduate degree certificates and misleading personal information during the recruitment process, thereby fraudulently qualifying for appointment through competitive BCS examinations.

The matter was formally disclosed on Tuesday at a press briefing held at the ACC headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka. Addressing journalists, ACC Director General (Prevention) Md Akhtar Hossain stated that the allegations against the three officials had existed for a considerable period, but gained renewed attention after documentary verification by the PSC confirmed the irregularities. He said the ACC had reviewed the PSC’s investigation report in detail and decided to proceed with legal action based on its recommendations.

“The use of forged academic credentials to enter public service is a grave offence,” Md Akhtar Hossain said. “It undermines merit-based recruitment, damages public trust, and constitutes clear criminal misconduct. The Commission is committed to ensuring accountability, regardless of rank or cadre.”

The accused officials include Sanjoy Das, recruited into the Administration cadre through the 38th BCS examination; Sukanta Kundu, appointed to the same cadre via the 41st BCS; and Abu Saleh Md Musa, who joined the Foreign Service cadre under the 38th BCS. Each allegedly presented forged bachelor’s degree certificates to the PSC at the time of application, a mandatory requirement for eligibility.

ACC officials confirmed that three separate cases will be filed against the accused individuals under relevant anti-corruption and criminal laws. Further investigation may also examine whether any institutional lapses or external facilitators were involved in enabling the fraud. If convicted, the accused could face severe legal consequences, including imprisonment, dismissal from service, and forfeiture of benefits.

Governance experts note that the case highlights systemic vulnerabilities in certificate verification during recruitment and underscores the need for stronger digital and institutional cross-checking mechanisms. The ACC’s move is widely seen as a signal that scrutiny of past recruitment processes is intensifying, particularly amid growing public concern over integrity in state institutions.

Details of the accused officials are outlined below:

The ACC reiterated that the investigation is ongoing and that further action may follow if additional evidence emerges. Officials emphasised that safeguarding the credibility of public service recruitment remains a top priority, warning that no individual found guilty of fraud would be spared under the law.