Officials who held key positions in the administration during the Awami League (AL) regime are now under heightened intelligence surveillance, sparking concerns about potential transfers and being made officers on special duty (OSD). The recent decision to place former Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Superintendents of Police (SPs) and secretaries under surveillance has triggered tensions in the administration. Several officials working in various ministries and departments of the Secretariat told UNB that officials and employees who were in significant roles under the AL government are now in fear of being designated as officers on special duty (OSD) or being forced into retirement. Particularly, those who served as DCs, SPs and secretaries are now under scrutiny, as a major reshuffling within the administration is imminent. Dialysis Crisis: Manikganj Hospital left with only one working machine Bureaucratic Discontent Officials who had served in the Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet Division, Ministry of Public Administration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Local Government Division, personal secretaries to ministers, and divisional commissioners are increasingly anxious, sources said. The recent developments have further exacerbated fears of instability in the promotion and transfer process within the administration. Former DCs involved in the controversial elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024 are particularly under the microscope. The interim government is taking punitive action against them. So far, 65 officers have either been sent on retirement or made OSD.  Among these, 22 former DCs (currently holding positions such as secretaries, additional secretaries, joint secretaries, and deputy secretaries) have completed 25 years of service and are being forced into retirement. Besides, 33 former DCs have been designated as OSD, and 12 more former DCs have already been made OSD earlier. Several secretaries have also been sent into OSD or retirement. After six years of struggling to find a job, Zahid finds success in strawberry farming Crackdown on Corruption The government is intensifying its efforts to probe officials linked to corruption during the AL government's tenure. According to official sources, action will be taken against officers who amassed illegal wealth during their time in power. Even those who have retired are not beyond the radar of investigation. A source at the Ministry of Public Administration told UNB that the government’s advisory committee has compiled a list of many officials who have worked in key government departments over the past 17 years. "Many officials who served as personal secretaries (PSs) to ministers during the last three terms of the AL government have already been made OSD. Decisions regarding them will be made shortly," said the source. Government Push for Efficiency Despite these measures, the desired level of momentum and efficiency has not yet returned to the administration. Due to lack of coordination, several high-level appointments, including secretaries, PSC members and DCs, are being canceled. To resolve this issue and streamline the process, the government has formed an advisory committee led by the finance adviser to manage promotions and transfers. Retrospective Benefits for Deprived Officials In an effort to address the grievances of officials who were deprived of promotions during the BNP-era and subsequently went into retirement, the government has formed a high-level committee led by former finance secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan. This committee has been tasked with compensating these officers. A total of 764 officials have been granted backdated promotions and financial benefits. These include 119 promoted to the position of secretary, 528 to additional secretary, 41 to grade-1, 72 to joint secretary, and 4 to deputy secretary. Importers ‘hoarding goods’ at Chittagong Port to create artificial crisis Changes Expected in DC Positions Changes are also on the horizon for the DC positions. The government plans to appoint new DCs from the 24th batch of BCS officers. A new list of eligible candidates is being prepared by removing controversial officials, marking a significant shift in the local administration. Bigger Reshuffle in the Works There are reports of a significant reshuffling of officials across various ministries and departments. Vacant secretary positions in several ministries and divisions will be filled by regular officers from within the administration. Officials who held key positions under the previous government will gradually be moved to less significant roles or made OSD. Government’s Official Statement Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Mokhlesur Rahman confirmed the ongoing investigation into the DCs who were in charge of the returning officers during the 2024 elections. "We have provided the full list of those involved in the 2024 elections to the intelligence agencies. Based on their findings, those with less than 25 years of service will be made OSD, while those with more than 25 years of service will be forced into retirement," he said. Regarding DCs involved in the 2014 and 2018 elections, Mokhlesur said, "Those who have been made OSD or forced into retirement will face legal action if there are allegations of financial corruption. Others will not. Even after retirement, if there are allegations of corruption, there will be no exceptions. Cases will be filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).” The senior secretary assured that the government would not engage in injustice or biased actions. “If any officer involved in the elections during the Awami League's time is proven guilty, the advisory committee will decide on their matter. Decisions regarding OSD and forced retirement will be based on their crimes. However, the government will not engage in injustice against anyone,” he said.

Clashes broke out between police and a group of students from Prime Asia University at the main gate of Bangladesh's Secretariat on Tuesday. Witnesses reported that the students were involved in a standoff with police, though the reason behind their protest remains unclear.F ans clash, vandalise BPL ticket booths failing to secure tickets Earlier, a four-member delegation from the university had entered the Secretariat building to meet the Education Adviser. They were scheduled to meet the adviser at 4:30 pm. "Outside, however, a larger group of students, who had been waiting, became involved in a verbal altercation with the police," said an official. Clash on Ijtema ground: Saad’s follower placed on 2-day remand The situation quickly escalated into a clash when the police used batons. They also fired two rounds of blank shots in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

Trainee Sub-Inspectors (SI) of the 40th Cadet Batch of the police have staged a sit-in in front of the Secretariat, demanding their reinstatement to ongoing training after being discharged due to alleged misconduct. The protests took place early Sunday morning at the west gate of the Secretariat. Protestors carried placards with various slogans, including “In the land of red and green, there’s no place for discrimination,” “Why should we be a burden when our mission is to serve the country?” “365 days without pay, return our jobs,” “We demand reinstatement immediately,” and “Our sole demand is quick reinstatement.” Martyred families exempted from giving proof of returns for savings certificates The authorities dismissed 321 SIs in four phases for alleged misconduct both in the field and during classes. The dismissed trainees have termed the allegations as absurd, claiming there was no disorder at the academy. They claimed that checking the academy's CCTV footage would provide proof of their claims. The trainee SIs also said they have been victims of discrimination. A trainee SI said they were not present at the academy on the day the show-cause letter was issued, as they were on leave. Renovation of burnt secretariat building to end in 10-12 days: Secretary Another trainee shared the emotional toll of the situation, saying, “We come from lower-middle-class families. Our families sacrificed so much for us to secure this job, yet today we are dismissed. The pain is indescribable.” They said they had submitted memorandums to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and other relevant departments, but have yet to receive any response. They said will hold a brief press conference after their sit-in, where they would provide further details.

The Building No. 7 of the Secretariat, which was gutted by a devastating fire last week, can be repaired and made usable, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Sub-Assistant Engineer of the Public Works Department has said. "We responded promptly after the fire broke out on Wednesday. Our team was on-site without delay, and we provided maximum support to the Fire Service from the Public Works Department," he told reporters  on the Secretariat premises on Monday. The four-story building housed six ministries, with 40 to 50 rooms on each floor, he said, adding that four floors were damaged, with some parts completely burned while others sustained partial damage. Secretariat fire: Activities of 6 ministries continue at several govt offices When asked whether the building could be used again, he said, “Several high-level teams have conducted investigations so far. Future actions will depend on the recommendations from expert committees. However, preliminary observations suggest the building can be repaired.” He added that the building has not yet been handed over to the Public Works Department by the law enforcement agencies. “Once the damage assessment report is provided, we’ll have a clearer idea of how long the repair process will take,” he said. Journalists to be allowed to enter secretariat with temporary passes from Monday

Activities of six ministries including the Finance Ministry have been going on temporarily at several government establishments in Dhaka following the massive fire at the Secretariat. The activities of the ministries of Road, Transport and Bridges, Post and Telecommunication, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperative are going on at Railway Bhaban on Abdul Gani Road, GPO Bhaban, South City Corporation Bhaban in Phulbaria respectively, said sources at the ministries. Moreover, the ministries of Youth and Sports, Labour and Employment and Finance are carrying out their activities at National Sports Council, Labour Bhaban and Finance Adviser’s office respectively. The Building No-7 of the Secretariat  caught fire on December 26 and offices, equipment, files, documents and furniture were badly damaged. Read: Secretariat fire sabotage or accident still not known: Fire service DG The fire destroyed vital documents of five key ministries. Two committees were formed to assess the damages to the Labour and Employment Ministry’s documents . One of the probe bodies is scheduled to submit an initial report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus today (Monday).

Journalists reporting from the Bangladesh Secretariat, including members of the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF), will be allowed entry with temporary passes starting Monday, officials said on Sunday. The decision followed a meeting between BSRF leaders and Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury at the Secretariat. Masudul Hoque, General Secretary of the BSRF, said that the forum had requested a resolution to the restrictions that had limited access for journalists covering the Secretariat beat. Journalists to be allowed to enter secretariat with temporary passes from Monday "In response to our appeal, the Adviser assured that journalists working in the Secretariat beat, including BSRF members, will be allowed entry with temporary passes for the next 15 days," he said. The Adviser also revealed plans to issue new press accreditation cards for journalists, which will be managed by the Directorate of Information under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The government aims to digitise these accreditation cards to streamline access and improve security. Masudul Hoque said that a list of BSRF members has already been submitted to the Home Ministry. This development is expected to ease concerns among journalists covering the Secretariat, enabling them to continue their professional duties unhindered.

Journalists will get temporary passes to enter the Secretariat from Monday. Accreditation cards of journalists are being re-evaluated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and new permanent or temporary accreditation cards / passes will be issued very soon, according to a PID handout. Secretariat fire part of a deep conspiracy: BNP’s Rizvi Visitors and journalists were barred from entering the Secretariat for the sake of investigation in the wake of the recent fire incident in the 7th building of the Bangladesh Secretariat. The fire severely damaged four floors of Building No. 7, from the sixth to the ninth, which housed multiple key ministries and divisions on December 26. Media access to Secretariat restricted for security of fire-hit KPI: CA Press Wing Meanwhile, several investigative committees have been formed to look into the incident.

The decision to restrict journalists' access to the Secretariat was taken in view of the safety and security of the Key Point Installation (KPI), which was hit by a devastating fire this week, said the interim government on Saturday. "The government regrets the inconvenience and seeks cooperation from journalists," Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said in a statement. The government will soon review the existing press accreditation cards and invite fresh applications from all the local and international news outlets for the Press Information Department to issue new accreditation cards, he said. Azad said temporary daily access cards will be issued by respective ministries for any press events. Temporary Secretariat entry passes cancelled due to security concerns Meanwhile, Chief Adviser's Senior Assistant Press Release Foyez Ahammad urged the professional journalists not to get worried, saying the leaders and activists of Chhatra League-Jubo League-Awami League are holding hundreds of accreditation cards like the professional journalists hold. "Dear professional journalist friends, don't worry," he said in a Facebook post. Foyez claimed that the Awami League regime harassed professional journalists by not issuing them accreditation cards and by canceling cards, but issued hundreds of cards in the names of their leaders and activists in favour of various fake news portals/newspapers. "It is very difficult to verify these cards one by one. Again, there is no other option but to take immediate action in the recent fire incident at  the Secretariat," he said. Foyez said professional journalists will get new accreditation cards based on the needs of their organisations very soon. However, journalism will definitely not stop, even the entry of journalists into the Secretariat will not remain halted, he said, adding that journalists will be able to enter with temporary passes from the ministry concerend.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday demanded a thorough investigation into the fire at the Secretariat to identify the real culprits. In a statement, he also expressed deep concern over the fire incident that broke out in the sensitive Secretariat building last night, leaving one person dead. “The devastating fire at the Secretariat has caused significant damages, with important documents reduced to ashes. It is not unusual that the current interim government finds itself in an embarrassing situation in the wake of such an incident,” the BNP leader said. “I strongly demand that the real culprits be identified and punished through a proper investigation into the fire,” he said. BNP expresses concerns over cyber protection ordinance Fakhrul called upon the government to provide appropriate compensation to the family of the fire victim and those injured in the incident. The fire, which broke on the sixth floor of Secretariat Building No. 7 around 1:52 am, was completely extinguished after 10 hours of firefighting efforts.  The fire severely damaged four floors of Building No. 7, from the sixth to the ninth, which housed multiple key ministries and divisions.

The cause of the devastating fire that engulfed Building No-7 of the Bangladesh Secretariat still remains unknown, said Muhammad Jahed Kamal, Director General (DG) of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD), on Thursday. Speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat at noon, DG Jahed said that the fire had been completely extinguished by 11:45 am. He said 10 firefighting units were deployed to combat the blaze, and one of the Secretariat’s gates had to be demolished to allow two large firefighting vehicles access to the scene. The fire severely damaged four floors of Building No-7, from the sixth to the ninth, where multiple key ministries and divisions were housed. These included the Youth and Sports Ministry, Labour and Employment Ministry, Posts and Telecommunications Division, Local Government Division, Rural Development and Cooperatives Division, and the Road Transport and Highway Division. Read: Fire ravages secretariat building, spreads across 3 floors: Home Adviser The floors were completely destroyed, reducing them to debris, as reported by UNB’s senior correspondent from the scene. Talking about the incident earlier, Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that it would be determined through investigation whether the fire was an act of sabotage. He said that the Cabinet Secretary had been instructed to form a high-level body to investigate the cause of the fire.  The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the exact circumstances surrounding this massive blaze at one of the country's most significant government buildings, he added.