Lottery Used to Rehabilitate Fascists and Covert Operatives

Questions have been raised over the PWD’s lottery-based transfer process, with officials alleging that engineers serving in Dhaka and other major cities received posts in the same areas. Employees claim the process has failed to ensure transparency and discipline, allowing officials associated with previous Awami League government to remain in key capital positions. There are also allegations that transfer orders of some Deputy Assistant Engineers were changed for money, though the claims have not been independently verified. Minister Zakaria Taher Suman has reportedly assured officials that genuine problems with transfer orders would be considered. On July 30, 767 Deputy Assistant Engineers (Civil) were transferred through a lottery. On August 3, another 254 Deputy Assistant Engineers (E/M) were transferred: 119 in Dhaka Division, 27 in Rajshahi, 27 in Chattogram, 27 in Khulna, 13 in Barishal, eight in Sylhet, 11 in Mymensingh and 22 in Rangpur.

The lottery was held at the Public Works Building in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, coordinated by Additional Secretary Md. Sarwar Alam, PWD Additional Chief Engineer Kazi Md. Firoz Hasan and Additional Chief Engineer (E/M) Ashraful Haque. Officials said other categories would be transferred. Questions remain over long-serving Dhaka officials receiving fresh Dhaka postings, while some engineers outside Dhaka were reportedly not brought to the capital. Similar concerns involved transfers within the same division. The Diploma Engineers Association, PWD branch, welcomed the lottery system. Its Member Secretary Md. Sakhawat Hossain said, “The Diploma Engineers Association, Public Works Department branch welcomes the lottery-based transfer process. As a result, I do not think discipline will return in the transfers and postings of the department.”

Another 409 PWD engineers were transferred: 152 Assistant Engineers (Civil), 67 Assistant Engineers (E/M), 135 Sub-Divisional Engineers (Civil) and 55 Sub-Divisional Engineers (E/M). Of them, 100 were transferred within Dhaka Division, 20 to Rajshahi, 34 to Chattogram, 20 to Khulna, 12 to Barishal, seven to Sylhet, nine to Mymensingh and 17 to Rangpur. Another 79 Sub-Divisional Engineers were transferred and promoted. PWD Chief Engineer Md. Khalequzzaman Chowdhury told Inqilab, “In fact, the instructions have been given by the ministry. That is how it has been implemented.” Asked how officials already working in Dhaka were again posted there, he said, “We have nothing to do. The officials of the ministry have already conducted the lottery.” Officials called for greater transparency and scrutiny to ensure transfers serve institutional needs and merit.