Professionals have started changing their ideologies after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government through Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
A section of professionals is seen taking part in political programmes of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which has remained out of power since 2007, to take political mileage.
Although the BNP, which has already directed its leaders and activists not to entertain such turncoats, many leaders are busy paving the way for renegades in exchange of ‘undue facilities’.
Visiting several government offices in the capital, it is observed that a section of officials, loyal to BNP, Juba Dal, and Sramik Dal, are
roviding shelter to those officials who have enjoyed facilities during the AL regime. However, leaders of Jatiyatabadi Peshajibi Shomonnoy Parishad, the professional body of the BNP, keeps mum on the issue.
It is almost the common phenomenon in every government office.
Sources say that although the members of Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) and other organisations of the state-run entities were dominated by the AL, they are now introducing them as members of the BNP-run organisations through ‘underhand dealings.’
The followers of a top leader of BNP Dhaka south city unit are taking ‘extra’ facilities from AL men by inducting them into Sramik Dal.
An investigation, run by the Bangladesh Post, shows that leaders of the BCS, Diploma Engineers and Employees Union of Housing and Public Works Ministry, who were loyal to AL politics, joined the BNP rally at Nayapaltan on August 7, just two days after the fall of Sheikh Hasina government.
Using the political identity of the AL, those leaders got promotions and took postings at ‘lucrative’ offices. They are now using the name of an influential leader of the BNP and former minister of Housing and Public Works Ministry.
Allegations are rife that these engineers used to deprive others by levelling the BNP-Jamaat tag.
Of the turncoats, Circle-1 superintending engineer Ilias Ahmed leads a syndicate comprising BCS engineers while Aminul Islam maintains another syndicate formed with diploma engineers.
Being patronised by former AL lawmaker Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shawon, Aminul Islam was allegedly involved in various irregularities. Being a right hand of Shawon, he reportedly tortured diploma engineers who were against him.
The Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating the allegation of amassing huge wealth, earned by him through ‘transfer and irregularities’.
Now he is trying to join the BNP. A section of diploma engineers alleges that Aminul has already developed relations with BNP men through underhand dealings.
Despite repeated attempts, Aminul was not found at his office or could not be contacted over phone.
When asked about change in their political identities so quickly, many of them said that they were involved with politics of Chhatra Dal during their student life.
But they were compelled to do the politics of AL due to torture and forced positing outside Dhaka, they said, wishing not to be named.
Employees claimed that these officials became millionaire during the AL regime and such group changes their ideologies soon after the political changeover.
The same scenario was seen at the National Housing Authority. Allegations are rife against Kuddus Ali Sarker, a member of land and wealth management. Sarker, who was a member of Bangladesh Chhatra League central body and Dhaka University unit, was allegedly involved in various irregularities and made a fortune through illegal means.
It is learnt that he is now trying to change his political identity. Despite repeated attempts, he could not be reached for his comments in this regard.
Besides, two directors – ABM Rezaul Karim and AQM Shafiul Azam -- of Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, have started introducing themselves as BNP men after the fall of Sheikh Hasina government. Both enjoyed facilities during the AL-led government.
It is learnt that incumbent DSHE director general Nehal Ahmed has been appointed for a year on a contractual basis. As he was appointed by the AL government, his appointment might be cancelled.
Both Rezaul (college and administration wing) and Shafiul (planning and development wing) are trying to introduce themselves as loyal to the politics of BNP to become the DG.
None of them was available for comments.
MN Islam Sohel, office secretary of Juba Dal central committee, told the Bangladesh Post that if any allegation with a proof is found against Juba Dal members, they would take immediate action.
Political analyst Abu Hena Razzaki told the Bangladesh Post that there is no scope for the government officials to do politics of any party during their tenure.
“There are for delivering services to the people. But the government officials serve the purposes of the ruling party for taking political mileage,” he said.
“Such practice does not yield any good result for the country,” he added.
