Govt to appoint new DCs in all districts by Sept ahead of national election

The government is set to appoint new deputy commissioners (DCs) in all districts ahead of the upcoming national election to hold it in a credible manner, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Officials at the public administration ministry say the appointments of new DCs are expected to be finalised by September, as the national election is scheduled to be held in February 2026.

Amid criticisms over appointing officials who benefited during the Awami League's tenure as DCs, the government is now exercising greater caution in making such postings.

Like the previous years, the DCs are expected to be appointed again as returning officers during the upcoming parliamentary elections. The preparation of the new "fit list" is already at its final stage. The ministry started preparing such a list on 11 January this year.

This time, no controversial official or those who have a political affiliation will be made a DC.

If anyone secures a DC appointment through deception or concealing information, administrative action will be taken against him or her once verified.

On 18 August, Md Sarwar Alam, a well-known executive magistrate for his strict action against food adulteration and irregularities, was appointed DC of Sylhet.

The change came amid much-talked-about allegations of large-scale stone looting from Bholaganj, Jaflong and other areas of Sylhet.

As part of the process, interviews were held in six phases with 269 deputy secretaries from the 25th and 27th batches of the BCS Administration Cadre.

Over 50 officers have been included in the fit list so far and viva voce for officers of the 28th batch are underway.

Currently, 26 officers of the 24th batch, 25 officers of the 25th batch and 12 officers of the 27th batch are serving as DCs.

Although 21 officers of the 24th batch were promoted to joint secretary on 20 March they have not yet been withdrawn from field administration.

Earlier, on 8 September 2023, DC appointments were made in 61 districts from a fit list of 108 officers, sparking huge controversy.

Many officers claimed they were "deprived," and created unprecedented disorder in the ministry.

Md Erfanul Haque, additional secretary (appointments, promotions and transfers) of the public administration ministry, said, "The DC appointment process is underway. The Public Administration Committee will decide the timeline, but we expect the appointments to be made soon."

Senior Secretary Mokhles-ur Rahman said, "The DCs will be appointed from the fit list. Qualified and competent officers will be placed ahead of the election to avoid any question of credibility."

Former secretary and administrative expert AKM Abdul Awal Majumdar said, "Interim governments (caretaker governments) in 1991, 1996, and 2001 did not face such disorder. The current administrative weaknesses must be addressed quickly. Governance is impossible without an honest, skilled and professional bureaucracy. There is still time to restore the administration by appointing capable officers in key positions."

In February, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin instructed the DCs of all 64 districts to apply the full extent of the law in their roles as returning officers in the upcoming national election.

This year, the government has sent 21 former DCs into compulsory retirement due to their roles in the controversial elections, as they had served as returning officers in the general elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024, which are widely criticised for fraud.

Besides, 43 former DCs were made officers on special duty (OSD). Those with less than 25 years of service experience were made OSD, while those who have served for more than 25 years were sent on compulsory retirement.