Govt retires 32 OSD joint secretaries over 2018 election roles

The retired officials include those who served as returning officers in the 2018 election

The government has compulsorily retired 32 joint secretaries who served as returning officers in the 2018 general election under the Awami League government.

The officials, all holding the rank of joint secretary, had been serving as officers on special duty (OSD) at the Ministry of Public Administration.

On Monday, the public administration ministry issued separate notices retiring the joint secretaries.

This follows similar action by the government targeting 33 police officers holding the ranks of deputy inspector general (DIG) and additional DIG.

The majority of these officers served as superintendents of police (SP) in districts during the 2018 election.

Monday’s notifications on the joint secretaries’ discharge cited identical grounds.

In accordance with the rules, the officers will receive post-retirement benefits.

Although the BNP participated in the 11th parliamentary election on Dec 30, 2018, the poll was marred by widespread allegations of rigging.

Amid claims that a vast majority of votes were cast the night before, opposition parties secured just seven seats and subsequently dubbed the event the "night-time election".

Following the fall of the Awami League-led government in the July Uprising, the interim government pledged to take decisive action against those involved in the election fraud.

The officers were initially stripped of their duties and made OSD, but no formal disciplinary measures have been taken to date.