The interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is set to appoint new Deputy Commissioners (DCs) across all districts in Bangladesh. A new fit list has been prepared, prioritizing those who were previously overlooked for promotion during the Awami League government's tenure. The fit list, developed by the Ministry of Public Administration, includes over 600 officials from the BCS 24th, 25th, and 27th batches, who have been deprived of promotions in the past 15-16 years. The interim government aims to address these long-standing grievances by considering these officials for the DC roles. A high-ranking official confirmed that the previous fit list created under the Awami League government is not being considered. Instead, the new list focuses on officials with extensive field administration experience who were previously sidelined due to political reasons. Many of these officials were labeled as supporters of opposition parties, leading to negative intelligence reports that blocked their promotions. In light of this, the government has relaxed the criteria for DC appointments to give these officials a fair chance. The committee, led by the Cabinet Secretary, has made special provisions to ensure that these deserving officers are appointed as DCs. Read more: Interim Govt taking steps to declare Metro Rail a key point installation for enhanced security: Adviser Fouzul The new policy allows officials who have been in the BCS (Administration) cadre for at least one year as Deputy Secretary and have a minimum of two years of experience in specific roles, such as Deputy Director or Additional Deputy Commissioner, to be eligible for the DC positions. They must also have a satisfactory disciplinary record over the past five years and demonstrate proficiency in project management, ICT, and both Bangla and English. Despite their qualifications, many of these officers were denied DC positions under the previous government. The decision to relax the policy and create a new fit list reflects the interim government's commitment to addressing these past injustices. The process of appointing new DCs began on Saturday, with interviews of 60 officials from the BCS 24th batch conducted under the supervision of Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain. Interviews will continue over the next three days, involving more officials from the 24th batch and beyond. Several Deputy Secretaries from various ministries and departments have been shortlisted for the DC positions. The interviews include officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Power, the Ministry of Finance, and the Anti-Corruption Commission, among others. Read more: Interim Government to publish White Paper on current economic situation In a related development, approximately 200 Joint Secretaries from the 9th to 13th BCS batches, who were also deprived of promotions, are set to be promoted to Additional Secretary. The recommendation for these promotions was sent to the Chief Adviser’s office on Saturday, with an official notification expected by Sunday or Monday. However, it has been reported that certain officials who previously served in key roles within the Prime Minister's Office will not be considered for the DC appointments, as per directives from higher authorities.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (May 25, 2024) said that the Awami League government has taken significant measures to shut down arms smuggling routes through Bangladesh to India, fostering peace in India's northeastern states. “Since coming to power, the Awami League has closed down the routes used for arms smuggling through Bangladesh,” she stated. The Prime Minister made these remarks during a program inaugurating various development projects in Old Dhaka, including the construction of a new 10-storey Bangabazar Nagar Wholesale Market. The original market was destroyed by a devastating fire on April 4 last year. PM Hasina inaugurates construction of new Bangabazar Wholesale Market The other projects inaugurated include Valiant Freedom Fighter Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Sarani (an 8-lane road), Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardy Shishu Udyan, and Nazrul Sarobor. Prime Minister Hasina emphasized the impact of the Awami League's efforts to curb arms smuggled to various Indian separatist groups, including the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). “As a result, peace prevails in the seven sister states of India. The Awami League has done this, and it is a significant accomplishment,” she added. The ULFA is an armed militant organization operating in Assam, seeking to establish an independent sovereign nation for the Assamese people through armed struggle. The Government of India banned ULFA in 1990, citing it as a terrorist organization. Would have been happy to tame the inflation: PM Hasina The seven sister states of India are Mizoram, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland. The inauguration program was presided over by LGRD Minister Md Tazul Islam. Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, local MP AFM Bahauddin Nasim, and LGRD Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim also spoke at the event.

The United States has ruled out any perception that it does not recognise Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s fourth straight term. At a regular briefing at the US Department of State on January 18, a journalist asked, “So, when you say that the election results in Bangladesh were not credible, free, or fair, does this imply that the US will not recognize Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s fourth straight term?”‘ In reply, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said, “No, no.” US wants to see the election carried out peacefully: State Dept Spokesperson Miller said they are now encouraging the government of Bangladesh to credibly and transparently investigate the reports of violence, to hold perpetrators accountable. “We urge all parties to reject political violence,” he said. Miller said the US remains concerned by the arrest of political opposition members and by the reports of irregularities on election day. US wants to see the election carried out peacefully: State Dept Spokesperson “We regret that not all parties participated, and we condemn the violence that took place during elections and in the months leading up to it,” he said. On Wednesday, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas had a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and discussed how the two countries would work together on issues of mutual importance such as climate change, business opportunities and the Rohingya crisis. “I look forward to working closely in the coming months to advance our relations based on mutual interest,” Haas said. Free, fair and peaceful’ election continues to be the focus of US’ engagement with Bangladesh govt: State Dept Spokesperson 

Nurul Haque Nur, member secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad, has said that the Awami League government executed some “innocent” leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami on “India’s prescription”. “Jamaat is not legally banned. But it is the Awami League that has executed some innocent leaders of Jamaat, in the name of war crimes trial, prescribed by India,” Nur said. Also read: Nur defends top aide Tarek’s “offensive remarks” on Hindu religious scripture Speaking at a Gono Odhikar Parishad rally in front of the National Press Club on Wednesday, he said, “Jamaat has held a rally in Dhaka for the first time in 10 years. Three ministers of Awami League said it was a political decision by the government.” “I believe Jamaat’s ideology and its politics will not allow it to do anything that benefits the Awami League. But there is no last word when it comes to politics. We do not know Jamaat’s current position. But it is clear from their statements that they will be on the streets,” Nur said. Also read: Jamaat holds first rally after a decade, demands polls under caretaker govt "We need everyone’s support to overthrow this government. So, we are with BNP, Jamaat, Jatiya Party, Charmonai …whoever will be on the streets. We are not in favour of keeping this government in power even for a single week,” he added. Referring to the recent Barishal city corporation election, Nur said, “You have seen a candidate being beaten up and left in a bloodied state. He is a veteran figure, a respected figure among Muslim scholars. We condemn this attack on him.” Also read: Awami League's policy unchanged despite allowing Jamaat rally: Home Minister

Denouncing the government’s ‘repressive’ acts to thwart their recent peaceful programmes, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said their movement will continue until the fall of the Awami League. Speaking at a press conference, he also alleged that attacks are being made on their party leaders and activists in different parts of the country so that BNP cannot participate in the next general election. “Our position is clear that this regime must hand over power to an impartial caretaker government by quitting power and dissolving parliament. Then, a new election commission will have to be formed to arrange the polls. We’re moving towards this goal," the BNP leader said. Also read: BNP demands probe into illegal use of Chinese Rifle by N’ganj police He said their party has scheduled programmes all over the country until September 10 and those will continue as usual. “After that, we’ll come up with new programmes. This movement will continue until the final victory.” Besides, the BNP leader also said they have continued their discussions with different opposition parties to build a greater anti-government platform. "We hope to give it a final shape and present it before the nation in a short period of time." Fakhrul narrated govt’s actions to suppress BNP’s programmes. He said their party’s programmes have been attacked by police and ruling party activists in different districts, including Narayanganj, Satkhira, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barisal, Jhalkathi, Pirojpur, Thakurgaon, Gaibandha, Chattogram, Noakhali, Feni, Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Narsingdi, Dhaka, Manikganj, Tangail, Munshiganj, Sirajganj, Laxmipur, Jashore, Meherpur, Jhenaidah, Magura, Narail, Khulna, Bagerhat, Brahmanbaria, Cumilla, Chandpur, Kishoreganj, Netrakona, Jamalpur and Mymensingh, since they waged a movement protesting the price hikes of fuel and daily essentials. He said three leaders and activists of their party and its associate bodies were killed while over 2,000 others were injured in the attacks all over the country recently. Also read: Get ready for final push against AL govt: Fakhrul to BNP activists Besides, Fakhrul said around 200 BNP leaders and workers were arrested while 4,081 were implicated in different cases, and around 20,000 unidentified people were made accused in those cases from August 22 to September 1. He also said section 144 was imposed in 20/25 places across the country and attacks on houses and business establishments were taken place in 50 places.” Fakhrul urged the government to stop killing and arresting the opposition leaders and activists and common people. “We also demand an impartial investigation into the murder incidents and ensure exemplary punishment of the killers and attackers. He also called upon the government to release those arrested unjustly and withdraw all the false cases. “The victims should be compensated." The BNP leader said the members of the police are not obeying the international rules as they are opening fire at people without any justification. Case in Narayanganj: Fakhrul said they filed a case in Narayanganj over the killing of a Jubo Dal activist Shaon Prodhan on September 1. He said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi filed the case against 22 people. “We'll definitely continue the legal fight against every murder and attack incident. On the one hand, we’ll intensify our street movement.” He said Awami League started attacking the programmes of BNP out of their nervousness seeing a mass wave on the streets. “Awami League's only means of staying in power is to create panic among people. They want to push BNP towards violence and they’re now suffering from mental pain having failed to take BNP in that direction,” the BNP leader observed. Fakhrul said they would inform the United Nations about the incidents of oppression, attacks on rallies, killing in police firing and rights violations.

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Monday warned that a vested quarter has been trying to oust her Awami League government despite its stellar success in putting the country on the road to development and prosperity. "Why do they want to thwart the Awami League government? What is its crime? She wondered during a meeting with leaders and activists of Tungipara and Kotalipra upazila Awami League, its front and associate bodies at Kotalipara upazila AL office in Gopalganj district. The premier, who is also the president of Awami League, arrived in Tungipara early in the day on her first visit to her hometown through the Padma Bridge since its opening by her on June 25. Also read: Cheerful PM’s photo with Joy, Putul from Padma Bridge takes netizens by storm She told the meeting that her government has been working tirelessly to transform Bangladesh  into a developed and prosperous nation free from poverty and hunger as envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. She asked her party leaders and activists to make sure that none of the people including her party members and workers would have to suffer pain owing to Covid-19 outbreak and Russia-Ukraine war. "Make sure that not a single activist of mine and the people has to suffer pain," she told the party leaders and activists. She urged the AL leaders and activists to stand beside the people to pursue the government move that none will remain poor, homeless and hunger anymore. "Each Awami League leader and worker has to work for changing the mindset that of enjoying everything alone," she said. The PM said that the world is now going through a critical juncture due to the double blow of the ongoing Coronavirus and Russia-Ukraine war and reiterated her call for all to exercise austerity in every sector particularly in using energy and electricity. "We're still in a good position and trying to be well. It requires help from all the citizens," she said. Hasina again asked all to bring every inches of land across the country under cultivation to grow foods so Bangladesh does not suffer such crisis. She said her government has built the Padma Bridge, supplied electricity to every house and is giving home to every landless and homeless people and ensuring food security for all. The Awami League president described grassroots activists as the lifeline of her party saying,  "The grassroots activists always take right decision and uphold the party." Also read: PM Hasina's first trip to Tungipara by Padma Bridge, pays homage to Bangabandhu She asked the party leaders to inquire about the wellbeing of every party member and stand by them if required. In this connection, the she recalled the inhuman torture on the leaders and activists of Awami League during the regime of Zia, Khaleda, Ershad, Ayub and Yahiay Khan. On her day’s visit to Tungipara Hasina was accompanied by her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed. The PM offered prayer at Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's mausoleum in Tungipara there seeking eternal peace for his departed soul of  and of other martyrs of August 15, 1975 massacre. She also placed a wreath at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu. After laying the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the architect of the independence, who was brutally killed by some disgruntled army men on the dreadful night of August 15, 1975 along with most of his family members. On her way to Tungipara, Hasina with her son and daughter spent some time on the Padma Bridge and took rest for a while at Jajira point's service area. She left Tungipara for Dhaka this afternoon The PM, who became the first national to pay toll to cross the country's longest Padma Bridge during its opening on June 25 last, also  paid toll this time too on both legs of her visit. Hasina said that all post-1975 governments except the Awami League-led one o served only their own interests. Referring to the pandemic and flood, she praised the leaders and workers of her party saying they came forward to help people affected by Covid-19 and now the floods. machineries. About the opening of the 6.15km Padma Bridge the prime minister said it will now ease long-distance traffic and transportation of commodities from the southern region. It will also play a significant role in helping the southern region of the country thrive economically, she said adding that only two and a half hours are needed now to come from Dhaka to Tungipara. She however requested the people in the southern region to make efforts to be self-dependent using the benefits of the Padma Bridge.  Hasina urged them to be engaged in various productive works to supplement the efforts of the government to increase production. She said like other countries, Bangladesh is also passing through a critical time due to the crisis in the world. She also asked AL and its associate bodies to plant saplings during this rainy session to make the country greener. She said though she is now aged she will continue to work for the cause of the country and its people as long as she lives.