A move in underway across the country’s civil administration, aiming to remove officials who were politically appointed during the 15-year rule of the Awami League. This move seeks to recognize and promote officials who have been sidelined over the past decade and a half.
According to high-level sources in the Ministry of Public Administration, this drive will particularly target divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners (DCs), and Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) who were appointed based on political affiliations rather than merit.
Officials noted that extensive politicization occurred during the Awami League’s long tenure, with many appointments and promotions being influenced by party loyalty. However, since the formation of the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, efforts have been made to reverse this trend by removing politically biased officials from various levels of the administration.
The move which began at the central administration, is now extending to the field level. Officials who were deprived of promotions and key postings during the Awami League era are being assessed for potential appointments. Several additional secretaries who were previously overlooked have already been promoted to the rank of secretary.
On August 17, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification promoting five additional secretaries to the rank of secretary in key ministries and departments, including Education, Road Transport and Highways, Public Security, Railways, and the President's Office.
In contrast, officials who were favored due to their political ties with the Awami League are being swiftly removed from their positions. This includes divisional commissioners, DCs, and UNOs, who are expected to be replaced soon. A list of these officials is reportedly being finalized.
The interim government has also focused on addressing grievances among officials aligned with the BNP-Jamaat coalition, who were marginalized during the Awami League’s rule. Hundreds of officials were denied promotions or relegated to unimportant roles, with some even forced into early retirement. The interim government has already promoted several deputy and joint secretaries, with more promotions expected soon.
In a related development, the government has ordered the forced retirement of Md. Jahangir Alam, Secretary of the Public Security Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs, due to various allegations against him. Additionally, the contracts of 10 other secretaries and senior officials across different ministries, departments, and agencies have been terminated, with the Ministry of Public Administration issuing notifications to this effect.
The officials whose contracts have been canceled include Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem, Senior Secretary of the Internal Resources Division and Chairman of NBR, Md. Lokman Hossain Miah, Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), KM Abdus Salam, Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat, Satyajit Karmakar, Senior Secretary of the Planning Division, Md. Mokammel Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division, Md. Humayun Kabir, Secretary of the Ministry of Railways, Md. Ali Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Wahida Akhtar, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, and Mohammad Khairul Islam, Executive Member (Secretary) of BIDA.
Furthermore, the contracts of the Director General of Bangla Academy, the Managing Director of BSS, and the Director General of the Shilpakala Academy have also been terminated.