Bangladesh Defense Forum
‘Role in rigged polls’: Govt going after officials involved
33 more ex-DCs made OSD; many likely to be forced to retire
The government has decided to take disciplinary action against 110 to 120 officials, including former deputy commissioners (DCs) and divisional commissioners still in service, who played significant roles in the engineered elections during the Awami League's rule.
So far, 45 former DCs, serving as joint secretaries, have been made Officers on Special Duty (OSD), a position deemed a punishment in the civil service.
A list of around 50 former DCs would be sent to the Anti-Corruption Commission so that their actions can be probed. On top of this, 23 additional secretaries and four to six secretaries may be forced to retire soon.
At least three senior government officials currently serving in key positions, including at the Chief Adviser's Office, revealed these to The Daily Star.
LGRD Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan in a social media post around 9:00pm yesterday said that all DCs involved in the "nighttime voting" during the 2018 election would either be made OSD or forced to retire.
A total of 33 DCs were made OSD yesterday. The public administration ministry had earlier made 12 others OSD.
Last night, a senior official of the ministry told this paper that not all officials were equally guilty. A decision has been made to send those into forced retirement who were involved in seriously controversial activities and have served for more than 25 years.
"Those who have not served 25 years would be suspended, and departmental proceedings would be initiated against them. Officials involved in relatively minor controversial activities will be made OSD … If someone voluntarily admits their wrongdoings and seeks an opportunity for correcting themselves, the government may consider," the official said.
Sources said the ministry may take disciplinary actions against several more officials today upon receiving approval from the president. A notification regarding the officials who would be forced to retire may also be issued.
When asked for comments, Mokhles Ur Rahman, senior secretary at the public administration ministry, told The Daily Star, "Eventually, action will be taken against all officials involved in controversial activities during the Awami League rule."
The 33 joint secretaries who were made OSD yesterday are Abul Fazal Mir; Moinul Islam; Md Wahiduzzaman; AKM Mamunur Rashid; SM Abdul Kader; KM Kamruzzaman Selim; Mohammad Dawoodul Islam; Md Majedur Rahman Khan; AZDM Nurul Haque; SM Ajiur Rahman; Mohammad Masud Alam Siddique; Gopal Chandra Das; Md Matiul Islam Chowdhury; Sabina Yasmin; Md Ataul Gani; Abu Ali Md Shazzad Hossain; M Kazi Emdadul Islam; SM Mostafa Kamal; Kazi Abu Taher; Md Mizanur Rahman; Mohammad Abdul Ahad; Anar Koli Mahbub; Syeda Farhana Kawnain; Mahmudul Kabir Murad; Anjan Chandra Pal; Sultana Parveen; Md Sarwar Murshed Chowdhury; Md Shahidul Islam; Mohammad Helal Hossain; Md Ali Akbar; Kabir Mahmud; Md Mahmudul Alam; and Hayat-ud-Doula Khan.
33 more ex-DCs made OSD; many likely to be forced to retire
The government has decided to take disciplinary action against 110 to 120 officials, including former deputy commissioners (DCs) and divisional commissioners still in service, who played significant roles in the engineered elections during the Awami League's rule.
So far, 45 former DCs, serving as joint secretaries, have been made Officers on Special Duty (OSD), a position deemed a punishment in the civil service.
A list of around 50 former DCs would be sent to the Anti-Corruption Commission so that their actions can be probed. On top of this, 23 additional secretaries and four to six secretaries may be forced to retire soon.
At least three senior government officials currently serving in key positions, including at the Chief Adviser's Office, revealed these to The Daily Star.
LGRD Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan in a social media post around 9:00pm yesterday said that all DCs involved in the "nighttime voting" during the 2018 election would either be made OSD or forced to retire.
A total of 33 DCs were made OSD yesterday. The public administration ministry had earlier made 12 others OSD.
Last night, a senior official of the ministry told this paper that not all officials were equally guilty. A decision has been made to send those into forced retirement who were involved in seriously controversial activities and have served for more than 25 years.
"Those who have not served 25 years would be suspended, and departmental proceedings would be initiated against them. Officials involved in relatively minor controversial activities will be made OSD … If someone voluntarily admits their wrongdoings and seeks an opportunity for correcting themselves, the government may consider," the official said.
Sources said the ministry may take disciplinary actions against several more officials today upon receiving approval from the president. A notification regarding the officials who would be forced to retire may also be issued.
When asked for comments, Mokhles Ur Rahman, senior secretary at the public administration ministry, told The Daily Star, "Eventually, action will be taken against all officials involved in controversial activities during the Awami League rule."
The 33 joint secretaries who were made OSD yesterday are Abul Fazal Mir; Moinul Islam; Md Wahiduzzaman; AKM Mamunur Rashid; SM Abdul Kader; KM Kamruzzaman Selim; Mohammad Dawoodul Islam; Md Majedur Rahman Khan; AZDM Nurul Haque; SM Ajiur Rahman; Mohammad Masud Alam Siddique; Gopal Chandra Das; Md Matiul Islam Chowdhury; Sabina Yasmin; Md Ataul Gani; Abu Ali Md Shazzad Hossain; M Kazi Emdadul Islam; SM Mostafa Kamal; Kazi Abu Taher; Md Mizanur Rahman; Mohammad Abdul Ahad; Anar Koli Mahbub; Syeda Farhana Kawnain; Mahmudul Kabir Murad; Anjan Chandra Pal; Sultana Parveen; Md Sarwar Murshed Chowdhury; Md Shahidul Islam; Mohammad Helal Hossain; Md Ali Akbar; Kabir Mahmud; Md Mahmudul Alam; and Hayat-ud-Doula Khan.
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