Indian media outlets, including Ei Samay Online, Zee 24 Ghanta, and Dainik Chitra, recently reported that all or most of the candidates excluded from the revised notification of the 43rd BCS were Hindus. However, fact-checking organization Rumor Scanner has labeled these claims as false and misleading. Instead, their investigation reveals that of the 209 excluded candidates, at least 120, or the majority, are Muslims.
According to Rumor Scanner, the Ministry of Public Administration published a gazette on October 15, 2024, appointing 2,064 candidates under the 43rd Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS). However, on December 30, 2024, the ministry annulled the previous gazette and issued a new one, appointing 1,896 candidates. This revised notification resulted in the exclusion of 168 candidates compared to the earlier list.
Indian media alleged that 168 Hindu candidates were deliberately excluded from the revised list, alongside claims that most of those excluded were Hindus or minorities. Upon investigation, Rumor Scanner found these assertions to be inaccurate. In reality, the revised gazette omitted 209 candidates who had been included in the October 15 list. Among them, at least 120 candidates (approximately 57%) were Muslims. Additionally, 41 new candidates were included in the December 30 gazette, of whom five were identified as Hindus or minorities.
A press release from the Ministry of Public Administration on January 2, 2025, clarified the situation. It explained that after the Public Service Commission (PSC) had recommended 2,163 candidates for various cadres under the 43rd BCS, background checks were conducted by the Special Branch (SB) of Bangladesh Police and respective district administrations. Among the recommended candidates, 40 were absent during medical examinations, and 59 were deemed temporarily unsuitable based on agency reports. Consequently, the October 15 gazette appointed 2,064 candidates.
Following widespread concerns about the transparency of the recruitment process, the government decided to conduct further vetting of the 2,163 recommended candidates through the National Security Intelligence (NSI) and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI). The reports identified 227 candidates with adverse comments on their background checks, rendering them temporarily ineligible for appointment. Additionally, 40 candidates were considered ineligible due to their absence from medical examinations. In total, 267 candidates were excluded from the recruitment process.
Based on these findings, the December 30 gazette appointed 1,896 candidates. Among the excluded candidates, Rumor Scanner identified at least 120 Muslims (57%) from the original list of 209 omitted names. Moreover, 41 new candidates were added to the revised list, of whom five were Hindus or minorities.
The Ministry of Public Administration emphasized that the revised list aimed to ensure a transparent and credible recruitment process by prioritizing candidates with a “clean image.” It also confirmed that any of the excluded 227 candidates may appeal for reconsideration, with applications open to all affected individuals.
This fact-check highlights the inaccuracy of claims by Indian media that all or most of the excluded candidates were Hindus. Instead, the exclusion process followed standard background checks, and the majority of those excluded were Muslims, as verified by Rumor Scanner.
