33 joint secys, who acted ROs in 2018 polls, made OSDs
In a major administrative reshuffle, the government has reassigned 33 Joint Secretaries and equivalent officials from various ministries, divisions, and offices as Officers on Special Duty (OSD).
Six notifications from the Ministry of Public Administration on Wednesday (January 19) confirmed the move, affecting officials who previously held key and controversial roles, including Deputy Commissioners and Returning Officers in the disputed 2018 elections.
Of the six notifications, five listed six officials each, while the sixth named three officials as OSD.
The official reason for their reassignment was not specified, with the notifications stating only that the decision was made "in the public interest."
Twelve more bureaucrats have been made OSD earlier for the same reason.
Among the 33 officials who were made OSDs on Wednesday are Director of the Disaster Management Department Md Matiul Islam Chowdhury, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Sabina Yasmin, Director of the Primary Education Department Md. Ataul Gani, Joint Secretary (Joint) of the Ministry of Social Welfare Abu Ali Md. Sajjad Hossain, Minister Local (Joint Secretary) Kazi Emdadul Islam, and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping SM Mostafa Kamal have been made OSD.
In addition, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Anjan Chandra Pal, Joint Head of the Planning Department (Joint) Md. Sultana Parveen, Project Director (Joint Secretary) of a project Md. Sarwar Murshed Chowdhury, Executive Secretary (Joint Secretary) of the National Social Welfare Council Md. Shahidul Islam, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Md. Helal Hossain, and Joint Secretary of the Financial Institutions Department Md. Ali Akbar have been made OSD.
Furthermore, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Md. Daudul Islam, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Industries Md. Majedur Rahman Khan, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment AZM Nurul Haque, Director (Joint Secretary) of the Bangladesh Rubber Board SM Azior Rahman, Secretary (Joint Secretary) of the Dhaka North City Corporation Md. Masud Alam Siddique, and Joint Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Department Gopal Chandra Das have been made OSD.
Director (Joint Secretary) of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation Kabir Mahmud, Director (Joint Secretary) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Md. Mahmudul Alam, and Director (Joint Secretary) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Hayat-ud-Daula Khan have been made Officers on Special Charge.
Regional Director (Joint Secretary) of the Directorate of Technical Education Md. Abul Fazal Mir, Member-Director (Joint Secretary) of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation Moin ul Islam, Member (Joint Secretary) of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority Md. Wahiduzzaman, Joint Secretary (Joint) of Food Ministry AKM Mamunur Rashid, Joint Secretary (Joint) of Internal Resources Division S.M. Abdul Quader, and Member (Joint Secretary) of Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) Dr. KM Kamruzzaman Selim have been made OSD.
At the same time, Joint Secretary of Shipping Ministry Kazi Abu Taher, Director (Joint Secretary) of Technical Education Department Md. Mizanur Rahman, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) member (joint secretary) Mohammad Abdul Ahad, Cabinet Division joint secretary (joint) Anar Koli Mahbub, Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission member (joint secretary) Syeda Farhana Kaunain, and Bangladesh Safe Food Authority member (joint secretary) Mahmudul Kabir Murad have been made OSD.
The Awami League government fell on August 5 last year in a mass uprising by students and the public. On that day, Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister and fled to India. An interim government was then formed. The interim government sent top officials of the administration who were beneficiaries of the Awami League government and involved in various injustices and corruption to OSD or compulsory retirement. Now the government has taken a tough stance against middle-level officials of the administration who were beneficiaries of the Awami League era and involved in anti-people activities.