‘Fascist enabler’ appointed WB alternate executive director, sparking controversy
Panchayet Habib
The government’s decision to appoint former National Board of Revenue (NBR) chairman and Internal Resources Division secretary Mr. Abdur Rahman Khan as Bangladesh’s alternate executive director at the World Bank, after withdrawing Ms. Sharifa Khan from the post, has triggered widespread controversy across the administration. Around one and a half years ago, the BNP had submitted a written application to the interim government seeking Mr. Abdur Rahman Khan’s withdrawal. The application was submitted by Mr. ABM Abdus Sattar, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Employees Unity Forum and the current chief adviser. Six months into the BNP government, Mr. Abdur Rahman Khan has once again been appointed to the World Bank alternate executive director post, sparking strong resentment.
Last Sunday, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification appointing former NBR chairman and Internal Resources Division secretary Mr. Abdur Rahman Khan as Bangladesh’s alternate executive director at the World Bank. The order, signed by Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Mr. Golam Rabbani, said Mr. Abdur Rahman Khan was being appointed on a contractual basis for three years from the date of joining as alternate executive director for Bangladesh at the World Bank’s headquarters in Washington, DC, subject to suspension of his unavailed post-retirement leave and related benefits and relinquishing any association with any other profession, business, or government, semi-government or private institution or organisation.
A week earlier, the contractual terms of the Cabinet Division secretary and the secretaries of the Ministry of Public Administration had also been extended for another year. A secretary, speaking to Inqilab on condition of anonymity, said leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Employees Unity Forum had previously made allegations against Mr. Abdur Rahman Khan. Yet, within six months of the BNP coming to power, the same official was appointed for three years. State Minister for Public Administration Mr. Abdul Bari told Parliament that the government plans to identify officials and employees who openly worked to prolong the fascist government and take legal action against them.
Mr. Babul Mia, secretary general of the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association (BASA), had to remain on Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for 10 years and two months during Sheikh Hasina’s government because of his BNP affiliation. He was also denied promotion. The official from the 15th BCS batch is currently serving as an additional secretary at the Planning Commission. At least 10 officials from the 18th BCS batch, two batches junior to him, have become secretaries, but he has not been promoted to secretary because of his BNP affiliation.
The Bangladesh Administrative Service Association recently demanded his promotion from the public administration adviser, state minister and secretary. However, he has not yet been promoted to secretary. Recommendations have reportedly also been made to appoint more than 100 BNP-leaning bureaucrats as secretaries, but the Ministry of Public Administration is not taking those recommendations into consideration.
At the end of 2024, allegations emerged that the “ghosts of fascism” were still present within the interim government. Bureaucrats appointed by the fascist government were serving as secretaries of important ministries and running the interim government. It was alleged that forces associated with the Awami fascist government were working from within the administration to undermine the historic mass uprising of students and the public and make the country dysfunctional and unstable.
Four months after the current government assumed responsibility, demands were made to remove or replace the secretaries appointed by the fascist government from 37 ministries. At that time, World Bank alternate executive director Ms. Sharifa Khan was serving in London. The officials against whom the BNP had submitted written complaints seeking withdrawal included Dr. Khairuzzaman Majumdar of the Finance Division, Mr. Shahriar Kader Siddiqui of the Economic Relations Division and 17 other secretaries who are still in office.
In addition, Mr. Nairuzzaman, who had long served as the personal secretary of NBR chairman Mr. Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem during the Awami League government, has also received a promotion and is currently serving as deputy commissioner of Nilphamari. Ms. Flora Bilkis Jahan, a former Bangladesh Chhatra League leader at the University of Dhaka, was appointed commercial counsellor in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She was promoted to joint secretary while serving there and remains in the post. Ms. Umm-e-Rehana, an official from the 20th BCS batch who served as the personal secretary to former state minister Ms. Monnujan Sufian, was appointed as joint secretary to the Power Division in 2023 and remains there.
Many officials have also been accused of involvement in killings during the student-public movement. Besides secretaries, officials appointed under the fascist government continue to hold posts as additional secretaries, joint secretaries, deputy secretaries, deputy commissioners, additional deputy commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs). It is learnt that excessive dependence on administration officials who benefited from the Awami League government is increasing a lack of coordination.
