Nafisa appointed Gazipur DC after two and a half years

Nafisa Arefin, an administrative officer, has been appointed as the District Commissioner (DC) of Gazipur, a position she previously held two and a half years ago. 

Initially appointed as DC of Nilphamari, her appointment was revoked by the then Awami League government due to allegations related to her past association with the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal during her student years. 

The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification today (9 Sepember), appointing her as one of 25 new DCs.

After a gap of two and a half years, Nafisa Arefin has been reappointed as a DC, this time in Gazipur, a key district near the capital, Dhaka. 

Sources say Nafisa Arefin, a 24th BCS batch officer, was initially appointed as DC of Nilphamari on 5 January 2022, following the completion of all appointment procedures. 

However, shortly after, a national newspaper published a report questioning her political affiliations. Within eight days, on 13 January, her appointment was cancelled, and Khandaker Yasir Arefin, the private secretary to former agriculture minister Dr Abdur Razzak, was appointed in her place.

Nafisa Arefin was previously involved in student politics at Dhaka University as a member of the student wing of the BNP. 

She has also served as the deputy secretary of the Discipline and Investigation Division of the Public Administration Ministry. 

Despite her DC appointment notification, allegations regarding her student politics led to her exclusion from the briefing for new DCs organised by the Cabinet Division. 

Subsequently, her appointment was cancelled and she was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture as a deputy secretary, where she has continued to serve.

Following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina on 5 August due to an anti-discrimination student movement, the interim government has reinstated Nafisa Arefin as a district commissioner.