Disaster management and industries secretaries forced into retirement

The interim government has mandated the compulsory retirement of Md Kamrul Hasan, Secretary of the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, and Zakia Sultana, Senior Secretary of the Industries Ministry. 

The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification on Thursday, February 20, enforcing their retirement.  

Md Kamrul Hasan previously served as Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Moulvibazar during the Awami League government. 

The current administration has been targeting DCs who served during the three elections held under the Awami League regime, either forcing them into compulsory retirement or designating them as Officers on Special Duty (OSD). 

Officials with less than 25 years of service are being made OSD, while those with more than 25 years are being retired compulsorily.  

According to the Ministry of Public Administration, Zakia Sultana’s compulsory retirement stems from her opposition to the July-August uprising. 

Additionally, on the same day, 21 officers who acted as returning officers in their capacity as deputy commissioners during the 2014 and 2018 parliamentary elections were also retired compulsorily in the public interest. Earlier, 43 individuals had been reassigned as OSD.  

The ministry further disclosed that Joint Secretary Dhananjay Das has been temporarily suspended for opposing the July-August uprising and disseminating false propaganda against the current government.