Kingly Farewells: Ministry to take action against the DC

The public administration ministry will take departmental action against the outgoing deputy commissioner of Mymensingh over some lavish farewells accorded to him.

The DC, Mustakim Billah Faruqui, was given around 30 such farewells before his transfer to the civil aviation and tourism ministry as a deputy secretary. 

"As the matter drew our attention, we already started investigating it. We will take proper action against him," Senior Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury of the public administration ministry told The Daily Star yesterday.

Under the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules 1979, officials cannot accept receptions at workplace, ministry officials said.

But as a custom, officials could attend farewell programmes organised by colleagues. However, it should be on a “limited scale and without any exaggeration,” said a top ministry official.

Sources said Mustakim's farewell programmes spanned over 15 days -- September 3 to September 18 -- and were hosted by the upazila administration, professional bodies and different socio-cultural organisations.

The ones that drew much attention were arranged by the town's Onsumble Theatre and the district sports association. Photos show that during the Theatre-organised event, the DC and his wife wearing royal dresses and crowns, which were hired by the group for the occasion. In the sports association's programme, Mustakim, who worked as Mymensingh DC for three years, rode a horse cart.

"The way he [Mustakim] has been given the farewells and the way he accepted those as a government official is not decent and expected," said one official of the public administration ministry, asking not to be named.

About the probable action, the official said Mustakim would face departmental action.

Departmental actions include suspension and even termination.

Earlier, media reports said the Anti-Corruption Commission decided to send a letter to the ministry, requesting necessary action against the DC.

The graft watchdog made the decision as part of its corruption prevention agenda, said ACC Secretary Abu M Mustafa Kamal.

Talking to The Daily Star, Onsumble Theatre President Abul Monsur said, "We never thought that it will create such an embarrassment for the DC and also for us.

"We received him as our lifetime member, and the reception was in accordance with the tradition of the troupe."

The DC was a patron of various cultural groups of the town, he added.

Sajjad Jahan Chowdhury Shaheen, secretary of Mymensingh Sports Association, said they organised the programme as the deputy commissioner was the ex-officio president of the organisation.

Contacted, the DC said he was accorded no more than 22 farewells. “Some called on me personally to say goodbye. Most of them were small gatherings.”

About the royal costume, he said, “It wasn't a farewell programme rather a reception as I was made lifetime member of the theatre. They adorned me with the royal dress as part of their tradition. It had no connection with the farewell.”

He added that he had worn that costume for about five minutes.

About 35 people were present there, and one of them took a photo, which later made headlines, Mustakim told this newspaper.