33 Joint Secretaries Who Served in 2018 National Elections Simultaneously Made OSD

Staff Reporter

The Ministry of Public Administration has issued orders making 33 former deputy commissioners (DCs), who served as returning officers during the 2018 national elections, officers on special duty (OSD). These officials were currently serving as joint secretaries in various ministries and departments.

The orders were announced on Wednesday through separate notifications from the Ministry of Public Administration.

Md. Mansur Hossain, Public Relations Officer of the ministry, said, “A notification has been issued transferring 33 officials and appointing them as officers on special duty (Joint Secretary) under the Ministry of Public Administration.”

According to ministry sources, these officials were deputy secretaries in 2018 and performed as returning officers in the 11th national election.

The BNP-Jamaat alliance boycotted the parliamentary elections in 2014 and 2024 but participated in the 2018 polls, where they faced defeat. Following the election, opposition parties raised various allegations, blaming the Awami League government for their loss.

Information and Broadcasting Advisor Nahid Islam hinted on Wednesday afternoon that actions would be taken against these officials.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the “Youth Festival” at PIB, she said, “Those who collaborated with fascism, engaged in corruption, and violated voting rights will soon be held accountable. The accomplices of fascism remain active in various parts of society and the state. It wasn’t just some police officers; the entire state machinery was influenced by these forces. Our fight against them will continue.”

On December 9, after a change in government, the Election System Reform Commission summoned 30 returning officers and assistant returning officers to investigate allegations related to the 10th, 11th, and 12th parliamentary elections.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, head of the Reform Commission, stated that the then-officials claimed they were victims of circumstances and that directions came from other sources. Lower-ranking officials raised questions about their superiors and alleged that the country had effectively become a police state during that time.