Forged certificates
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
A unit of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) carried out a raid in the Mirpur area of Dhaka sometime ago and unearthed the certificate forgers' racket that has been active since long. The arrested ring leader of the gang confessed that he was involved in the counterfeiting of certificates since 1988. A large number of certificates of different public and private universities were found during the raid. The certificates appeared to be so faultlessly forged that none could say that those were not genuine ones.
From the confession of the arrested persons, it could be learnt that they have been making certificates not only of public and private universities but virtually of all other academic institutions such as medical colleges, engineering colleges and universities, polytechnics, etc. They were successfully marketing these fake certificates among the underground buyers. Some teachers are alleged to be also buyers of these fake certificates and they resell the same to so-called students who have contacts with them.
According to newspaper reports, the RAB could also learn from the arrested persons that such certificate holders could successfully deceive employers and get jobs utilising the fake papers. Thus, one may assume that a considerable number of people have been put into positions of responsibility in government offices, private offices, banks, insurance companies and other enterprises because the employers in all cases were fooled by their forged certificates. It should be obvious that these employees who are not fit to be doing the jobs pose a threat to the smooth and good functioning of the organisations where they are serving.
Clearly, the RAB should interrogate the arrested members of the racket to learn the details of all the certificates they have sold so far and track down their users. The employing organisations can then be approached to sack these forged certificate holders. Potential employers should be warned through the media to check the genuineness of certificates submitted by job seekers. It is absolutely unacceptable to allow this crime to flourish because at stake is the proper functioning of private and public organisations from incompetent people making entry into them with the strength of forged papers.
Besides, there is also the aspect of admission of Bangladeshi students, to foreign academic institutions. Undoubtedly, the greater number of them is talented and possess genuine academic certificates. However, if the news circulates in foreign countries that at least some certificates of the applicants from Bangladesh are forged ones, then that could trigger a sweeping reaction. In that case, all Bangladeshi applicants could be put through much rigours and proving procedures to ensure the validity of their certificates. Thus, for these reasons also and not to spoil the fine reputation that our young men and women enjoy abroad for their academic abilities, this issue of forged certificates need to be dealt with very firmly.
Abdur Rahim
Uttara, Dhaka
From the confession of the arrested persons, it could be learnt that they have been making certificates not only of public and private universities but virtually of all other academic institutions such as medical colleges, engineering colleges and universities, polytechnics, etc. They were successfully marketing these fake certificates among the underground buyers. Some teachers are alleged to be also buyers of these fake certificates and they resell the same to so-called students who have contacts with them.
According to newspaper reports, the RAB could also learn from the arrested persons that such certificate holders could successfully deceive employers and get jobs utilising the fake papers. Thus, one may assume that a considerable number of people have been put into positions of responsibility in government offices, private offices, banks, insurance companies and other enterprises because the employers in all cases were fooled by their forged certificates. It should be obvious that these employees who are not fit to be doing the jobs pose a threat to the smooth and good functioning of the organisations where they are serving.
Clearly, the RAB should interrogate the arrested members of the racket to learn the details of all the certificates they have sold so far and track down their users. The employing organisations can then be approached to sack these forged certificate holders. Potential employers should be warned through the media to check the genuineness of certificates submitted by job seekers. It is absolutely unacceptable to allow this crime to flourish because at stake is the proper functioning of private and public organisations from incompetent people making entry into them with the strength of forged papers.
Besides, there is also the aspect of admission of Bangladeshi students, to foreign academic institutions. Undoubtedly, the greater number of them is talented and possess genuine academic certificates. However, if the news circulates in foreign countries that at least some certificates of the applicants from Bangladesh are forged ones, then that could trigger a sweeping reaction. In that case, all Bangladeshi applicants could be put through much rigours and proving procedures to ensure the validity of their certificates. Thus, for these reasons also and not to spoil the fine reputation that our young men and women enjoy abroad for their academic abilities, this issue of forged certificates need to be dealt with very firmly.
Abdur Rahim
Uttara, Dhaka