60 Officials From Ousted Fascist Regime Shortlisted for DC Posts

The district commissioner (DC) is one of the most important officials in the field administration. This time, 30 deputy secretaries have been interviewed for appointment as DCs, while another 30 officials will be interviewed today, Monday.

However, officials of the 30th BCS Administration cadre served during the “night-time” elections under the fascist Hasina government and secured deputy secretary promotions through “prize postings” in key ministries. Some of them have now been called for interviews for appointment as DCs.

The interviews were held on Sunday under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Division secretary. It is learnt that the then-fascist Awami League government recruited 277 officials from the 30th BCS Administration cadre in 2012. Of them, officials bearing IDs 16804–16876 were called for interviews to prepare the fit list in the first phase. Another group bearing IDs 16741–16801 has been called today, Monday.

A notice issued by the Ministry of Public Administration said the interviews for preparing the fit list for DC appointments were held from 5pm in Room 800 of Building 1 of the Cabinet Division. The notice also said that officials should not remain absent from the interview without permission.

Officials of the 30th BCS Administration cadre allegedly secured deputy secretary promotions by serving in the “night-time” elections and obtaining “prize postings” in important ministries. They allegedly lobbied members of the Superior Selection Board (SSB) in groups, along with officials working in the Ministry of Public Administration and the Cabinet Division, to secure the promotions.

The Awami League government appointed 277 officials from the 30th BCS Administration cadre in 2012. According to the report, most of these officials were involved in conducting the “night-time” elections. They served as assistant returning officers in the 2018 election and completed voting at night. After Sheikh Hasina fled to India following the student-people’s movement, these officials allegedly changed their positions and began claiming that they had been deprived of opportunities.

Nikaru Zaman, a senior assistant secretary of the Cabinet Division from the 30th batch, is reportedly leading efforts to lobby secretaries and advisers for their promotion to deputy secretary. His father, Wahiduzzaman Chowdhury, was the general secretary of the Chattogram South District Awami League, while his younger brother Tanvir Chowdhury was a joint general secretary of the Chattogram South District Chhatra League. The official served as the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Ukhia in Cox’s Bazar during the “night-time” election.

Another pro-Awami League official, Bariul Karim Khan, is also reportedly leading lobbying efforts for the promotions. During Sheikh Hasina’s rule, he served as private secretary to then Public Administration Secretary Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury. After August 5, he was transferred to the Cabinet Division and joined there. He later allegedly managed to become private secretary to newly appointed Public Administration Secretary Mokhlesur Rahman. Following criticism, Mokhlesur Rahman removed him and appointed his batch-mate Nur-e-Alam as private secretary. Bariul Karim Khan is now serving in the ADC wing of the Ministry of Public Administration.

The report says Bariul Karim Khan, described as an Awami League beneficiary, previously served as private secretary to a member of the Planning Commission and the secretary of the Local Government Division. In a Facebook post in 2021, he wrote that “we are gradually building the golden Bengal that Bangabandhu envisioned for the people of Bengal.”

According to a review of Public Administration Ministry data, 317 officials from the Administration cadre and 208 officials from other cadres were considered for promotion to deputy secretary. The ministry found information on departmental cases against 19 officials and Anti-Corruption Commission cases against seven. The matter was discussed at a meeting of the Superior Selection Board (SSB) this week.

Among those described as having played a role in the “night-time” election is Kazi Hafizul Amin, senior assistant secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture. He served as additional deputy commissioner of Dhaka district and UNO of Kaliakair in Gazipur, reportedly due to his close ties with Sheikh Hasina’s secretary, Mohammad Salah Uddin.

Although Hafizul Amin joined the Cabinet Division a few days before August 5, he allegedly changed his position after August 5 and subsequently served as private secretary to the Home Affairs Adviser. He also served as a magistrate in Manikganj during the 2024 election.