The interim government is going to withdraw deputy commissioners (DCs) from over 20 more districts soon as they were allegedly involved in massive irregularities and corruption during the tenure of the immediate past Sheikh Hasina-led government.
Many of them were appointed as DCs on political grounds, depriving a good many patriotic, honest and brilliant officers during the tenure of the past Awami League government, according to sources concerned.
Some of the DCs are the relatives of former minsters and members of parliament (MPs) while some others are the leaders of Awami League and its student wing Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL).
Former Gazipur DC Abul Fateh Mohammad Shafiqul Islam was once the joint secretary of Salimullah Hall BCL unit of Dhaka University.
It is alleged that he made huge money through bribery while serving as Rupganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) in Narayanganj. He took bribe from land acquisition for various projects at Rupganj, some of his colleagues said.
Shafiqul Islam also took money from the candidates of the 2018 controversial parliamentary elections during the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina.
Later, he was transferred as ADC (Revenue) to Dhaka DC office. He allegedly maintained illicit relations with a female assistant commissioner. Due to these allegations, he was transferred to the Public Administration Ministry.
Some brilliant officers like BM Moshiur Rahman and Sarwar Alam did not get promotion because of him. He played a key role in not giving promotion to them.
Narayanganj DC Mohammad Mahmudul Hoque was involved in BCL politics while he was a college student. He made huge money through illegal means when he was the ADC (Land Acquisition) in Dhaka. He also served as Director of the Prime Minister Office (PMO).
One of his staff member was arrested with a sack filled with bribe money in Narayangaj. However, Mahmudul Hoque shifted the blame onto an ADC.
Former Kustia DC Md. Ehtasham Reza was also an BCL leader. He was the joint secretary of BCL’s Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman hall unit. His father is a vice-president of Gaibandha district Awami League.
Former Rangpur DC Mohammad Mobasher Hasan is known as a corrupt officer to his colleagues. He was also bribe collector of Joint Secretary Shaila Farzana, wife of dismissed Additional Inspector General (Special Branch) Monirul Islam.
He also served as the private secretary of Public Safety Division. He worked as his bribe collector at the same time.
There is also an allegation that Mobasher Hasan used to supply young ladies to some influential people.
Munsiganj DC Md Abu Zafar Ripon is widely known as womeniser and bribe collector of Shaila Farzana. He is a die-hard Awami League supporter. He managed to get the DC post providing a huge amount of money.
This correspondent tried to contact Abu Zafar for his comments over the allegation against him. But he did not receive the call.
Former Sylhet DC Sheikh Rasel Hannan was the vice-president of BCL’s Bangabanbdhu Sheikh Mujib Hall unit of Dhaka University. While he was serving as UNO of Savar, he made cores of taka illegally. He is also known as womeniser in his circle.
He could not be reached over phone for his comments.
Cumilla DC Khandaker Mushfiqur Rahman’s father is a senior leader of Pabna district Awami League. He was bribe collector of a former principal secretary. He also became millionaire through illegal means.
Tangail DC Md Kaisarul Islam is widely known as a person having no morality. He was also bribe collector of a former principal secretary.
When contacted, Kaisarul Islam denied all the allegations against him, saying, “I am working with honesty and professionalism.”
Lakshmipur DC Suraiya Jahan worked as the bribe collector of Joint Secretary Shaila Farzana. She allegedly made huge money while serving as UNO in Munshiganj. She supervised a project related to land acquisition.
Former Faridpur DC Md Kamrul Ahsan Talukder was the president of BCL hall unit of Bangladesh Agriculture University. Later, he became the vice-president of BCL’s Bangladesh Agriculture University unit.
Dinajpur DC Shakil Ahmed was very active in BCL politics during his student life. Now he is the supporter of the Awami League.
His father sought Awami League ticket to contest the parliamentary elections in Barishal-3 constituency.
His father got Independence Award in 2022.
When contacted, Shakil Ahmed requested this correspondent to send SMS. Bangladesh Post sent questions to his official WhatsApp number.
Later, he called back and said that he was posted as DC on merit basis. “I was on the 7th position on the merit list of my batch, he said.
Shakil Ahmed, however, admitted that his father sought AL nomination to contest the national polls.
Bogura DC Md Saiful Islam was actively involved in BCL politics and obtained various posts of the BCL.
Kishorganj DC Mohamamd Abul Kamal Azad is a blind supporter of the Awami League.
However, his family members are loyal to Jatiya Samajtrahtik Dal (JSD). He was allegedly involved in massive corruption while he was the UNO of Sreepur in Gazipur district.
He bought huge wealth in the name of his father, mother, father-in law, mother-in law and other relatives. He was very close to former chief of Detective Branch Harun Or Rashid, who also hails from Kihsorganj district. He managed to get DC post using the link with Harun and Shaila Farzana, his colleague alleged. He also allegedly worked as bribe collector of Shaila Farzana.
Nilphamai DC Pankaj Ghosh’s father is an executive member of Modhukhali Upazila Awami League.
Cox’s Bazar DC Muhammad Shahin Imran is a supporter of Awami League. He was the vice-president of BCL’s Sir A F Rahman Hall unit of Dhaka University in 2001. Later, he became the first vice-president of BCL’s Dhaka University unit.
Former Joypurhat DC Salehin Tanvir Gazi’s father was the general secretary of AL-backed Teachers Association of Chattogram University. He was also the president of Bangabandhu Parishad’s Chattogram University chapter.
His father was also the president of Prajanma Ekattor’s Chattogram Division.
Former Magura DC Mohammed Abu Naser Beg’s uncle is a treasure of AL-backed blue panel teacher association of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University unit. His father-in-law was the former food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder. He was also general secretary of Naogan Distruct Awami League
Rangamati DC Mohammad Mosharaf Hossain Khan’s father was freedom fighter and government employee. Once his father was pro-BNP official. Later, he joined Awami League and was president candidate of Union Awami League.
But DC Moshraraf denied and said his father was never candidate of Union Awami League.
Sherpur DC Abdullah al Khairum was active in BCL politics during his student life. He also served s the director of the PMO.
This correspondent tried to contact Dr. Md Mokhles-ur-Rahman, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration. But despite several attempts, he could not be reached over phone.
About the allegation of posting DC violating normal procedure, former secretary Abu Alam Md Shahid Khan said, “If anyone is given post without maintaining proper ways, they should be withdrawn.”
“Our administration must remain neutral and work as per the constitution,” he added.
There are some qualifications for becoming DC. If anyone is given posting without fulfilling the qualifications, the government can withdraw them, he continued.
He also said that students and people participated in the recent movement against discrimination and gave their blood not for continuing the old evil practice.
