141 ex-DCs now in govt crosshairs
The government yesterday forced 22 more officials into retirement, raising the number of disciplined bureaucrats to 67 for their questionable role as deputy commissioners in the 2014 and 2018 sham elections under the Awami League regime.
These 67 officials are on a list of 208 former DCs; many of the remaining 141 are also likely to be punished.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. On Wednesday, the public administration ministry placed 33 officials on special duty. Previously, it did the same to 12 other former DCs. Special duty in this context is perceived to be a disciplinary measure.
The ministry is currently reviewing the records of the officials on the list, and most of them are likely to face punishment, according to officials with knowledge of the developments.
Mokhles Ur Rahman, secretary at the ministry, said disciplinary actions will be taken in phases. Those who were DCs during the 2024 election will face action in the last phase.
"The actions will send the current DCs a message that they should work during the upcoming election without fear," he told reporters yesterday.
Those forced to retire yesterday include Zakia Sultana, senior secretary at the industries ministry; Kamrul Hasan, secretary at the disaster management ministry; and Abu Hena Morshed Zaman, a secretary who had already been on special duty.
In another development, Dhananjay Das, joint secretary of the public security division, was suspended yesterday on charges of opposing the July uprising and spreading falsehood about the interim government.
A few DCs, who worked impartially in the 2014, 2018 and 2024 elections, will not face harsh punishments. Initially though, all of them will be made Officers on Special Duty (OSD), sources said.
Contacted, Obaidur Rahman, additional secretary (recruitment, promotion) of the ministry, said, "There is a growing perception that officials often face no consequence for misconduct. This leads to more corruption and irregularities…. The strict actions will let current officials know that they must fulfill their responsibilities with integrity."
A senior official, requesting anonymity, said the departure of 200 or so officials would not affect civil service because there are more officials than needed.
The three national elections held under the AL regime were marred by widespread irregularities.
The last general election, held on January 7, 2024, was boycotted by the BNP and several other parties. In many places, AL leaders ran as independents to make the polls appear participatory.
In 2018, opposition parties alleged that ballot-stuffing took place the night before the election.
Transparency International, Bangladesh, said ballot-stuffing took place in more than one centre in 33 of the 50 constituencies it had surveyed.
In the 2014 election, also boycotted by the BNP, 153 out of 300 lawmakers got "elected" without needing any vote because they were the only ones running for office in their constituencies.
YESTERDAY'S FORCED RETIREMENTS
As per the service act, an official who has been in service for 25 years or more can be ordered to retire.
Additional secretaries ordered to retire yesterday are Abu Saleh Ferdaus Khan, Masud Karim, Kamrun Nahar siddika, Umme Salma Tanjia, Rabbi Mia, Suvash Chandra Biswas, Mohammad Moklesur Rahman Sarkar, Shafiul Arif, Enamul Habib, Foyez Ahammad, SM Alam, Humayun Kabir, Shayla Farzana, Abdul Awal, Tofayel islam, Sawkat Ali, Tanmoy Das, Hamidul Haque.
Wahidul Islam was ordered to retire as a joint secretary and Ahmed Kabir as deputy secretary.
Meanwhile, six trainee assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) from the 40th BCS have been dismissed, said a notification from the Public Security Division.
They are Ashrafuzzaman, Manas Kirtaniya, Shantu Roy, Sohel Rahman, Kazi Faizul Karim, and Sanjib Deb.
The notification did not mention why they were being dismissed.
On October 20 last year, the government suspended the passing-out parade of the trainee officers of the 40th BCS. On November 19, the graduation ceremonies for trainee ASPs and trainee sub-inspectors (SIs) at the police academy were postponed.
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