DC fit-list prepared with enablers of ‘Night-time vote’

The Public Administration Ministry has all but finalised its fit-list of 30th BCS officials for appointment as deputy commissioners (DCs), even as questions mount over selecting numbers of controversial officials who breached the public service rules by involving ‘night time vote’ of 2018 and the ‘one-sided’ election of 2024. Some of those also involved on conducting oppressions against the students during the July uprising in 2024 to make the then Awami League government happy.

According to documents obtained by Asia Post, 148 officials from the 30th BCS batch have been named on the draft list including those controversial officials.

Experts said it must not be acceptable to keep controversial officials in the DC fit-lists.

When contacted, AFM Solaiman Chowdhury, former Secretary of the Public Administration Ministry told Asia Post, “The officials who played role in any controversial acts of any government must not be kept at the Deputy Commissioner fit-list.”

“It does not matter that if they willingly or not willingly played pivotal role in controversial activities on favoring illegally to any government, they must keep away from such fit-list, because they already become unfit for this post.”

The former secretary said, the officials have taken oath not to stand against the state and its people’s interest. But if they conduct anything breaching their oath, violating people’s interest they must keep away from such promotion, the DC fit-list.

When asked over the controversial role in the previous elections and uprising period of some officials who have been included in the DC fit-list, Md Quamruzzaman Chowdhury, Senior Secretary of the Public Administration Ministry did not deny the allegation.

The Senior Secretary told Asia Post, “Those officials could answer these questions that what they done previously. You should ask those officials.”

Replying of the question that if the ministry scrutinized or not over these issues, the senior secretary said, “We have tried to choose those officials who are capable, skilled and eligible. We have chosen those so that they work better to enhance the public administration ministry and increase its goodwill.”

Former secretary AKM Abdul Awal Majumder said any attempt to influence appointments should be avoided.

Concern sources said, the list includes a number of officers alleged to have facilitated the ‘night-time vote’ in 30 December, 2018 and who went on to secure favourable postings and promotions under the then Awami League administration.

Sources said, the interviews for the shortlisted officials ran from 30 August to 17 September, 2026, but were conducted without formal letters or a published notice, with most candidates informed by telephone call rather than written communication.

An official involved in compiling the shortlist said preferring anonymity the unconventional method of contacting candidates was adopted partly to limit external pressure on the process.

One candidate who sat the interview said efforts were under way to appoint officers who had served as upazila nirbahi officers (UNO) during the 2018 national election widely called the ‘night-time vote’, and who he said had directly or indirectly aided the previous AL government.

Such appointments, the candidate said, “would severely undermine the spirit of the 2024 mass uprising,” and argued the officials in question should not be given DC postings.

Separately, officials who describe themselves as having faced discrimination under the previous government said the interview process ought to have been conducted openly and verifiably.

The DC is the senior-most civil administrator in a district and typically also serves as returning officer during elections.

Several 30th-batch officers who served as UNOs, assistant commissioners (land) or assistant returning officers during the 2018 polls, and who were subsequently promoted under the Awami League government, feature on the prepared list.

They include Nikaruzzaman, Bariul Karim Khan, Kazi Hafizul Amin, Nazmul Alam, Habibul Hasan, Al Imran Ruhul Islam, Pankaj Barua, Bikash Bishwas, Snehasish Das, Alamgir Kabir, Shimul Kumar Saha, Abu Raihan Dulon, Kazi Arifur Rahman, Sajib Debnath, Jebun Nahar Shammi and Sejuti Dhar. Md Shimul Akhtar, Md Masum Reza, Md Nazrul Islam, Chitra Shikari and Arifa Siddika are also named.

Jayanti Rupa Roy, currently is serving as deputy chief of the planning division, was played a vital role in the ‘night time vote’ in 30 December, 2018 in Alfadanga upazila of Faridpur district. She was also served as Assistant Returning Officer in the election.

Nikaruzzaman, now serving in the Cabinet Division, is alleged to have lobbied for promotion; his father Wahiduzzaman Chowdhury was an Awami League leader in Chattogram, while his brother Tanvir Chowdhury was linked to the Chhatra League.

He served as UNO of Ukhia during the 2018 election and played a vital role in the night-time vote casting.

Currently BEPZA Executive Director Samir Biswas was the UNO at Bishamvarpur upazila in 2017 to 2020. He had played discordant role during the 2018-night time vote.

Deputy Secretary Bivision Kanti Das also played controversial role in the night time vote in 2018 as he was UNO in Matiranga upazila of Khagrachhari district.

Another deputy secretary Pronoti Biswas also included in the DC fit-list. She has been criticized by the people for her strong role in the night time vote as she was Assistant Commissioner (Land) and executive magistrate in Kaligonj upazila of Gazipur district, during the argumentative vote in 2018.

Current Deputy Secretary Chitra Shikari, included in the list who was Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate at Tarakanda upzila of Mymensingh during the controversial night time vote in 30 December, 2018. She acted as an accomplice in the polls.

Deputy Secretary and ADC of Narail, Linkon Biswas was strongly involved in the 30 December polls of 2018 as the UNO and Assistant Returning Officer in Shoronkhola upazila of Bagerhat.

Shimul Kumar Saha of the list, also played strongly on favaring the night time polls as the UNO of Koira upazila of Khulna.

Now Deputy Secretary, Ponkoj Barua was involved in the night time vote as Assistant Returning Officer in Brahmanbaria sadar upazila. He was the UNO of the same upazila during the time.

Currently deputy chief of the planning division, Priyanka Dutt was Assistant Commissioner (AC Land) of Sonaimuri upazila of Noakhali.

She served as Executive Magistrate in the controversial election.

Current deputy secretary of the finance division, Debangshu Kumar Sinha served as Assistant Returning Officer in Goalanda upazila of Rajbari district during the controversial night time election in 2018.

Implementation, monitoring and evaluation division’s deputy secretary Sujit Debnath served as UNO and Assistant Returning Officer in Sujanagor upazila of Pabna district during the controversial 30 December night time vote.

Bariul Karim Khan served as private secretary to the then public administration secretary Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury before joining the Cabinet Division, where such a role, officials say, affords considerable access to decision-making, so enlisting his name is not acceptable, experts say.

Kazi Hafizul Amin, now a deputy secretary at the Economic Relations Division, served as additional deputy commissioner of Dhaka and UNO of Kaliakair, and was posted to the Cabinet Division shortly before 5 August 2024, having earlier served as a magistrate in Manikganj during the 2024 election.

More serious allegations surround officers who served as executive magistrates during the July mass uprising.

Abdullah Al Zaki, now with the National River Conservation Commission, is among those said to have been deployed against the student-led protests.

Administrative experts have called for a thorough background review of every candidate before the list is finalised, covering service records, previous postings, election duties, disciplinary history and documented allegations.