Two gangs have been active in Dhaka for long in producing fake academic certificates for private universities and carrying out their business in broad daylight.
These gangs publish eye-catching advertisements in newspaper to draw the attention of students, who have spent years in institutional education. Then, they dodged students with providing fake certificates.
Among prominent institutions whose papers are forged by these gangs are Stamford University, Southern University, America University, Premier University of Technology, Royal University, IBAIS University, City University and University of Comilla.
Study Help Line Limited
Study Help Line Limited and Private Study Help Line Limited together run a well-decorated office in Mahakhali DOHS, equipped with CCTV. This correspondent in guise of a student visited there.
When asked about the details, Student Councilor Kamrunnahar Mitu said they could arrange exams as well as provide original certificates of Stamford University, America Bangladesh University, Premier University of Technology, Royal University, City University and University of Comilla.
However, the price for certificates varied from university to university, ranging from Tk 60,000 to Tk 210,000 with 50 percent payment taken in advance.
The certificates were ready within a month, they could be verified online on the university websites, making the documents as valuable as an original one, she said.
Sources said, one Ziaur Rahman Sohel and his wife Mitu jointly ran the company.
Later, this correspondent could not trace the couple.
Success Coaching Centre
Seeing a newspaper advertisement, this correspondent posing as a customer made a phone call to Success Coaching Centre, which has an office near Tejagon College in Dhaka. A female voice identified as Shirin responded from the other end.
Shirin said, “Once Success was a famous coaching centre, now they also arrange for private examinations for different universities including Uttara University, Asian University, Stamford University and Royal University.”
The prices for certificates varied from Tk 220,000 to Tk 300,000 with 70 percent to be paid in advance.
Asked how to get the certificate, Shirin said, “You will appear in the test only. Universities keep the answer sheet. Later, we will provide the certificate within four months and you will conduct online verification while receiving the certificate.”
Dr Salam Patwary, brother of Halim Patwary who owns the UCC Coaching Center, is the owner of the Success. When this Correspondent asked to Salam’s contact number she declined.
Name of universities targeted by the illegal business
About to take legal action against the fake certificate gangs, Stamford University Vice-Chancellor Ali Naki said, “We will find out whether anyone of the university is involved with fake certificate trading.”
“We maintain four-tier security in making certificate. So, faking our documents is not possible,” said Uttara University Pro-vice Chancellor Yasmin Ara adding, “Fraudsters prepare fake certificates in collusion with the police and administration.”
Blaming people generally for behaving irresponsibly, Royal University VC called for nationwide crackdown on the fake certificate gangs.
Types of certificates provided by cheating gangs
To provide fake certificates, these gangs select universities which have disputes among their directors or face cases in the High Court.
Recently, the University Grants Commission warned students over admission to several private universities, chosen BY the Study Help Centre and the Successes make fake certificates.
The IBAIS University runs its operation with the HC’ stay order after it witnessed a dispute among its board of trustees. The government shut down America Bangladesh and University of Comilla, BUT later they started operating securing HC’s stay order. A trial is underway on the dispute in the board of trustees of Southern University and Premier University. Gono Bishwabidyalay opened several departments without UGC’s permission, later it secured HC’ order to continue the education.
UGC Chairman Professor Abdul Mannan said, “We warned the students not to enroll at these universities. They are not operated properly and face many allegations. We will not be responsible if students are cheated after enrolling there.”
“In Bangladesh, it’s proved that cheating gang can provide fake certificates from Secondary School Certificate to PhD. People are getting jobs with these fake certificates and securing promotion too.
Everyone has to raise their/his voice against these gangs,” the UGC chief said.
The police and the administration were empowered to nab these gangs and punish them, if only the education ministry, police and administration want to act they can take action against them”, Mannan said.