[🇧🇩] Punitive action against officials who were involved in vote rigging

[Saif]

Date of Event: Feb 20, 2025

Source : https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/role-rigged-polls-govt-going-after-officials-involved-3828936

‘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.​

 

[Saif]

Government must restore trust in electoral system

Those who abetted election rigging should be held accountable.

www.thedailystar.net

Government must restore trust in electoral system
Those who abetted election rigging should be held accountable

We welcome the government's decision to take disciplinary action against officials involved in election rigging during the ousted Awami League (AL) regime. According to a report in this daily, 45 former deputy commissioners, now serving as joint secretaries, have been made officers on special duty (OSD), while according to another report, 22 former DCs and a joint secretary have been forced into retirement due to their role in election manipulation. Additionally, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will likely be requested to open investigations against around 50 more former DCs.

The unethical collaboration of government employees in election engineering is not only a breach of their service terms—their pledge to serve the nation, not the ruling party—but also a violation that, during the controversial national elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024, stripped citizens of their voting and democratic rights. The manipulation of these elections helped sow the seeds of fascism in the country, as it deprived citizens of their ability to hold the government accountable in any meaningful way.

For over a decade, Bangladeshis were unable to freely exercise their voting rights to elect representatives who would formulate policies in their best interests. Instead, election rigging rendered people powerless, allowing AL to gradually take complete control of all governance mechanisms—leaving no meaningful opposition even in parliament. As a result, more businessmen-turned-politicians became policymakers, and making self-serving decisions at the expense of national interests became a regular occurrence. Corruption became the norm, while transparency and accountability at every level of governance were eroded, further entrenching authoritarianism. This would not have been possible if national elections had been free and fair; even local elections were not spared from such manipulation.

While some bureaucrats may have been pressured to collaborate with AL in election rigging, many benefited from it. All those involved must be identified, and a thorough investigation should be conducted to determine the extent of their complicity, with penalties imposed accordingly. However, the entire process—from identifying those responsible to delivering justice—must be transparent and adhere to due process.

We also urge the government to implement the Election Reform Commission's recommendations to establish checks and balances that will prevent future election manipulation. No political government should ever again have the power or means to deprive people of their voting rights.​

 

[Saif]

'Role in 2018 polls': 33 joint secretaries made OSD

These officials had served as deputy commissioners and returning officers in the 2018 national election

www.thedailystar.net

'Role in 2018 polls': 33 joint secretaries made OSD

The government today made 33 joint secretaries officer on special duty (OSD).

The Ministry of Public Administration issued six separate gazette notifications regarding their OSD status today.

These officials had served as deputy commissioners and returning officers in the 2018 national election, according to the ministry sources.

To see the list of culprits click on the link above.

 

[Saif]

SPs involved in 2018 ‘night time’ polls to face music: Asif

Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyain yesterday said the SPs who were in charge during the 2018 “night-time” elections will be made officers on special duty (OSD) or sent into forced retirement.

www.thedailystar.net

SPs involved in 2018 ‘night time’ polls to face music: Asif

Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan. File photo

Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyain yesterday said the SPs who were in charge during the 2018 "night-time" elections will be made officers on special duty (OSD) or sent into forced retirement.

He made these remarks in a Facebook post.

Earlier on Thursday, the government 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 elections under the Awami League regime.

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 development.

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 any vote as they were the only ones running for office in their constituencies.

In another development, Dhananjay Das, joint secretary to the Public Security Division, was suspended on Thursday on charges of opposing the July uprising and spreading falsehood about the interim government.

Earlier, six trainee ASPs from the 40th BCS have also been dismissed through 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 dismissed.

On October 20 last year, the government suspended the 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.​

 

[Saif]

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.

www.thedailystar.net

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.

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.​