Home
+
Published : 24 Feb 2026, 07:34 PM
Retired information cadre officer Md Sarwar Alam has been reappointed as press secretary to President Mohammed Shahabuddin, filling a post that had remained vacant for more than a year.
The public administration ministry issued an order on Tuesday appointing him on a one‑year contractual basis.
In an interview with Bengali daily Kaler Kantho, President Shahabuddin alleged that the Chief Advisor’s Office dismantled the presidential press wing following a courtesy visit by members of the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).
He said the DRU committee had visited him after their election, and photographs of the meeting were published in several newspapers the next day.
According to the president, the chief advisor's press wing reacted negatively and sought to identify who at Bangabhaban had facilitated the coverage.
“In fact, no one from the press wing did anything. I had personally invited the journalists after receiving their letter,” he said.
He added that his press secretary, deputy press secretary and assistant press secretary were subsequently withdrawn, along with two long-serving photographers.
“The entire press wing was taken away. We cannot issue press releases from here. Even if the Bangladesh cricket team wins somewhere, we cannot issue a congratulatory message. We have been made completely disabled,” he said.
The DRU committee referred to by the president was led by its President Abu Saleh Akon and General Secretary Mynul Hasan Sohel.
They met Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban on Jan 19, 2025.
At that time, Sarwar was serving as the president’s press secretary.
The BNP‑led new government has now reinstated him to the role once again.
The ministry said the appointment is effective from the date of joining, on condition that he sever ties with any other profession, business or organisation.
Other terms will be set out in the contract.
The order was issued in public interest, it said.
Sarwar had earlier been appointed to the same post on Dec 23, 2024 for two years with the rank of secretary, but that appointment was later cancelled.
During the BNP‑Jamaat-e-Islami alliance government, he served as deputy press secretary to then prime minister Khaleda Zia.
A member of the BCS 1984 information cadre, Sarwar worked as deputy press secretary to Khaleda.
He also served as public relations officer at the home ministry and as first secretary at the deputy high commission in Kolkata.
The “deprived” officer went on post‑retirement leave in February 2022 and formally retired in 2023.
Born in Feni, he completed his master’s degree in geography and environment from Dhaka University.
