22 ex-DCs sent on compulsorily retirement over roles during controversial JS polls under AL regime
“The officials had served as returning officers in the general elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024 which are widely criticised as controversial, unaccepted and day’s voting at night,” Public Administration Senior Secretary Md Mokhles Ur Rahman said
The government has sent 22 former deputy commissioners (DCs) into compulsory retirement because of their roles as returning officers in the controversial elections held under the previous Awami League government.
The Ministry of Public Administration issued separate notifications yesterday, stating that the government found it necessary to retire these officials in the public interest.
Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat, Public Administration Senior Secretary Md Mokhles Ur Rahman explained the reasoning behind the decision, saying, "The elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024 have been described in different ways – some call them controversial, others say they were unacceptable, and some claim votes were cast the night before election day.
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"The Awami League stayed in power for three consecutive terms, leading to this situation. The government held the elections with the help of returning officers. No DC protested, refused the role, or resigned. That is why this decision is being made."
He added, "Those with less than 25 years of service have been made OSD [officers on special duty], while those who have served for more than 25 years were sent on compulsory retirement."
Among those sent into compulsory retirement are three secretaries, 18 additional secretaries, and a joint secretary. The three secretaries affected are – Ministry of Industries Senior Secretary Zakia Sultana, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Md Kamrul Hasan and Ministry of Public Administration Secretary (OSD) Abu Hena Morshed Zaman.
Among the retired officials, four had served as returning officers during the 2014 elections, while the rest were returning officers in the 2018 elections.
On Wednesday, 33 joint secretaries and officials of similar rank, who were DCs during the 2018 polls and served as returning officers, were made OSD. Earlier, 12 returning officers who served in the 2018 election process were also made OSD.
