Tapashee Tabassum Urmi, an assistant commissioner in Lalmonirhat district, has been suspended following her controversial remark regarding the interim government on Facebook. She was suspended and disciplinary proceeding has been initiated against her, according to the PRO of the Ministry of Public Administration on Monday. Earlier on Sunday evening, she was made Officer on-Special Duty (OSD) and was attached to the Ministry of Public Administration, according to agazette notification, signed by Nilufa Yeasmin, senior assistant secretary of the ministry. In a Facebook post, Tapashee wrote, “The chief adviser of the interim government which has no constitutional base told a push has been made on reset button, history got erased. He has removed all histories of the county by clicking the reset button. Is it too easy! your (Yunus) countdown has started, Sir.” When asked about the post, she said, “I gave a post and it is enough. I made it only me. Transfer can be on several grounds and I don’t want to make any comment in this regard.” She also said, “There is no problem if I am terminated for this. Our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu is a settled true. Erasing history by pressing reset button, what stands for it? Therefore I assume the anti-liberation forces are in power in the country. It has been termed as July genocide, these all are upon investigation, not settled true. It hasn’t been proven yet.” It was found in her Facebook that she took a strong position against the mass upsurge and uploaded several posts in favour of the then Awami League government.

The civil surgeon in Jhalokathi has been made OSD for negligence of duty in dealing with the victims of last month’s launch fire on Sugandha River near this southern town. A letter signed by the deputy secretary of the ministry of health on Monday said civil surgeon Dr. Ratan Kumar Dhali was made OSD over the incident of devastating MV Abhijan-10 launch fire where 49 people were killed and dozens are still missing.  According to a list maintained by Red Crescent Bangladesh's Jhalakathi district office, at least 58 people were still missing as of Wednesday. READ: Jhalakathi launch fire: Death toll rise to 49 On December 26, the chief inspector of the Department of Shipping Shafiqur Rahman filed a case against eight people, including four owners of the launch, under the Marine Act with the Marine Court. The court took cognizance of the case and issued arrest warrants against the accused. That day, Dhaka Marine Court ordered to send the two drivers of the MV Abhijan-10 launch to jail in a case related to last month’s deadly fire. On December 28, the police control room set up at the launch terminal provided information about 41 missing passengers, said Md Salauddin, a sub-inspector at Jhalakathi Sadar Police Station. They are - the 8th accused in the case Abul Kalam (in-charge driver) and the 7th accused Masum Billah (2nd driver). The same day the court sent the two masters of the launch Riaz Sikder (master in charge) and the 6th accused Khalilur Rahman (2nd master) to jail when they surrendered before it. Advocate Billal Hossain, prosecuting officer of the Department of Shipping, said that the overall responsibility of the engine room rests with the engine drivers. Not only did they neglect their responsibilities, their role in the aftermath of the fire was presumptuous. The fire was initially reported to have started from the engine room, he said. READ: V Avijan-10 owner, 24 others sued over Jhalakathi launch fire If they had managed the engine room properly with perfect supervision, perhaps this horrible tragedy could have been averted, Adv Billal added. The worst launch fire in memory occurred in the early hours of December 24 off Jhalakathi town as Abhijan-10 packed with more than 800 passengers was on the way to Barguna from Dhaka.

Some 290 government officials are currently serving as officers on special duty (OSD) while 177 officials and employees are working at different ministries and departments on contract basis.

The High Court on Wednesday ruled that no government official can be kept as an officer on special duty (OSD) for more than 150 days.