22 DCs from three elections sent into forced retirement

Officers with allegations will face consequences; retirement is not an escape, says public administration secretary

The interim government has forced 22 deputy commissioners who served as returning officers in the last three general elections into compulsory retirement.

Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Thursday, Public Administration Secretary Mokhlesur Rahman emphasised the government’s “tough” decisions in the public interest and their implementation.

Among those affected, four had served as returning officers in the 2014 election.

“Since the election took place a long time ago, only four remained in service while many had already retired, but there are still numerous allegations against them,” the secretary said.

He added, “The Anti-Corruption Commission is also filing cases against them. Retirement does not mean freedom. The government will not make concessions here in the public interest.

“Those accused of corruption, overstepping their authority, or acting beyond legal bounds will face appropriate disciplinary action under service rules.”

Regarding those involved in the latest national election, he said: “The list of officials engaged in the 2024 election has been handed over to intelligence agencies.

“Those with less than 25 years of service will be made [officer on special duty], while those over 25 years will be sent into compulsory retirement.”

The decision comes a day after 33 deputy commissioners who served as returning officers in the 2018 election were made OSD.

During the previous Awami League government, the BNP-Jamaat alliance and like-minded opposition parties boycotted both the 2014 and 2024 general elections.

However, in 2018, they participated, but allegations surfaced that the Awami League secured victory by ballot-stuffing on the night before polling.

The Electoral Reform Commission summoned 30 returning officers and assistant returning officers on Dec 9, 2024, to inquire about allegations related to the 10th, 11th, and 12th national elections.

Commission chief Badiul Alam Majumdar said at that time, “They [officials] shared their experiences. They said they had little control over the situation as ‘the strings were being pulled from elsewhere’.

“In a way, they were helpless. However, junior officers have raised questions about their superiors. The key takeaway was that our country had turned into a ‘police state’ at that time.”