Eight days after transfer, Sylhet's new deputy commissioner yet to assume office

An acting DC is running administrative operations

More than a week after being transferred to Sylhet amid controversy over the management of donations at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal, the district's newly appointed deputy commissioner (DC) has yet to take up his post.

Md Reza Hasan handed over charge as deputy commissioner of Cumilla on Jul 1 before his scheduled transfer to Sylhet.

However, as of Monday, he had still not joined his new workplace.

Acting Sylhet DC Pinky Saha told bdnews24.com, "It was decided that [Reza] would come to Sylhet after handing over charge in Cumilla on Jul 1. But he did not come.

“Since then, we have received no further instructions from the Ministry of Public Administration, nor have we spoken to him."

The transfer follows the Jun 21 removal of former Sylhet DC Md Sarwar Alam, whose administration had introduced new donation boxes, sealed the shrine's three historic donation cauldrons and deployed Ansar personnel for security, prompting criticism from devotees.

Four days later, he was transferred to the public administration ministry.

State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari dismissed speculation surrounding the delayed joining, saying routine transfers were handled by ministry officials.

Retired secretary and former BPATC rector AKM Abdul Awal Majumder said such delays were not unusual.

"Such incidents have happened frequently in the past. In many districts, deputy commissioners did not join for months. Since an acting official is performing the duties, I don't see any problem," he said.