32 ex-DCs who served as 2018 poll returning officers sent into compulsory retirement
The former deputy commissioners, all from the 20th BCS administration cadre, were retired under Section 45 of the Public Service Act after completing 25 years of service.
Highlights:
- 32 former DCs compulsorily retired by government
- All served as 2018 election returning officers
- Officials retired under Public Service Act provision
- Retired officers entitled to pension and benefits
- All had been serving as OSDs since February
The government today (28 July) sent 32 former deputy commissioners (DCs), who served as returning officers during the 2018 11th parliamentary election, into compulsory retirement.
The Ministry of Public Administration issued separate notifications tonight ordering their retirement.
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All of them belong to the 20th Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration) cadre and had been serving as Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) under the ministry with the rank of joint secretary. Having completed 25 years of service, they were retired under Section 45 of the Public Service Act, 2018.
The notifications said the retired officials would receive all retirement-related financial benefits in accordance with existing rules. They had been made OSDs on 19 February last year.
The officials sent into compulsory retirement are: Md Majedur Rahman Khan (Chandpur), Md Abul Fazal Mir (Cumilla), Md Aslam Hossain (Kushtia), Moinul Islam (Netrokona), Mohammad Daudul Islam (Bandarban), Md Shahriar (Natore), Kazi Abu Taher (Shariatpur), AZM Nurul Haque (Chapainawabganj), Md Mizanur Rahman (Mymensingh), Mohammad Elias Hossain (Chattogram), Anjan Chandra Pal (Lakshmipur), AKM Mamunur Rashid (Rangamati), Md Kamal Hossain (Cox's Bazar), Md Abdul Ahad (Sunamganj), Md Jasim Uddin (Pabna), Saroj Kumar Nath (Jhenaidah), Md Shahidul Islam (Khagrachhari), Md Wahiduzzaman (Feni), SM Aziyor Rahman (Barishal), Mohammad Masud Alam Siddique (Bhola), Md Matiul Islam Chowdhury (Patuakhali), Najia Shirin (Nilphamari), SM Abdul Quader (Rajshahi), Md Ali Akbar (Magura), Mahmudul Kabir Murad (Habiganj), Md Sarwar Murshed Chowdhury (Kishoreganj), Syeda Farhana Kawnain (Narsingdi), Mohammad Helal Hossain (Khulna), Anar Kali Mahbub (Sherpur), Mosammat Sultana Parvin (Kurigram), SM Ferdous (Manikganj) and Gopal Chandra Das (Chuadanga).
Section 45 of the Public Service Act, 2018 empowers the government to compulsorily retire any public servant in the public interest after the completion of 25 years of service without issuing a show-cause notice. Officials retired under the provision remain entitled to pensions and other retirement benefits under the prevailing rules.
The officials served as returning officers in their respective districts during the 11th parliamentary election held on 30 December 2018. The Awami League-led alliance won a landslide victory in the polls.
However, the election became widely controversial over allegations that ballot papers had been stamped the night before voting, leading it to become widely known as the "night-time election".
Over the past year, the interim government has taken disciplinary measures against numerous officials who held key administrative positions during the previous Awami League administration, including placing them on OSD status, sending them into compulsory retirement or dismissing them from service.
Earlier, several additional inspectors general of police, deputy inspectors general, superintendents of police and officials at various levels were compulsorily retired.
Similar measures were also taken against a number of secretaries, additional secretaries, joint secretaries and deputy secretaries in the administration cadre. The retirement of the 32 former DCs marks the latest such move.
