Chaos erupts in ministry over DC appointments

The appointment of new deputy commissioners (DCs) has led to unprecedented chaos in the country’s public administration.

A number of deputy secretaries from various ministries were locked into heated arguments with senior officials at the Ministry of Public Administration on Tuesday and Wednesday (11 September). 

Sources say they engaged in disruptive protests, standing outside offices and shouting for hours.

The government recently appointed DCs for 59 districts. However, the appointments of eight DCs in Lakshmipur, Joypurhat, Kushtia, Rajshahi, Sirajganj, Shariatpur, Dinajpur, and Rajbari were cancelled on Wednesday .

New DC appointments for these districts will be made within the next two to three days, said Senior Secretary Md Mokhlesur Rahman during a press briefing at the secretariat on Wednesday ..

Many of the new appointees are accused of corruption and favoritism during the Awami League government’s tenure, leading to widespread unrest among officials. 

Claiming to be “disadvantaged”, the protesters have demanded the cancellation of the appointments and the issuance of new notifications. They have set a deadline of 5pm on Wednesday .for their demands to be met.

Mentionable, Chief Adviser Prof Dr Yunus is now in-charge of the Public Administration Ministry.

Senior Secretary to the ministry Md Mokhlesur Rahman described the officials’ behaviour as “indecorous and undesirable.” He said some of the complaints from the disgruntled officials were valid, leading to the cancellation of the appointments for DCs in eight districts. 

On Monday around 1:30pm, the protesting deputy secretaries engaged in a confrontation with Joint Secretary KM Ali Azam at his office on the second floor of the Ministry of Public Administration. 

This office handles appointments and transfers of field administrators (DCs and UNOs). 

Reports indicate physical altercations, although some officials, including a female officer, attempted to manage the situation.

By the afternoon, police and military personnel were stationed on the second floor. Despite this, the protesters remained in the building until 4pm, before moving to the fourth floor in front of the Cabinet Secretary’s office. 

They only left the premises after speaking with the Cabinet Secretary.

In response, the ministry has formed a one-member investigation committee led by Senior Secretary MA Akmal Hossain from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 

This committee has been tasked with reporting on the incident within seven working days. Decisions will be based on the committee’s findings.

Since the fall of the Awami League government, there has been frequent disruption related to promotions, postings, and appointments within various government departments. 

The recent protests over DC appointments are noted as particularly rare within the Ministry of Public Administration. 

Some senior officials said that such occurrences are unprecedented in their careers.

An official said that the sudden surge in promotions and appointments following the previous government’s collapse has incited such incidents. 

Mokhlesur Rahman, the senior secretary, said that appointments are an ongoing process, and valid complaints will be considered. He emphasised that changes in DCs, commissioners, and secretaries are not uncommon.

The DC of Tangail has been reassigned to Panchagarh, the DC of Nilphamari to Tangail, the DC of Natore to Lakshmipur, and the DC of Panchagarh to Nilphamari.

Protesting officials have claimed that many of the newly appointed DCs are beneficiaries of the Awami League and have been appointed due to their allegiance to the previous government. 

They allege that these individuals have mistreated colleagues, are linked with the Awami League and its student wing, and have close ties with former ministers.

In another development, the divisional commissioners of Dhaka and Rangpur have been removed and assigned to the Ministry of Public Administration for future postings. 

The Divisional Commissioner of Dhaka (Additional Secretary) Md Sabirul Islam and the Divisional Commissioner of Rangpur (Additional Secretary) Md Zakir Hossain will be reassigned soon. 

The ministry has indicated that other divisional commissioners may also be reassigned soon.