With a year to go before the upcoming national parliament elections, a trend of acting neutral type has started among police and civil administration officials, so those involved in such activities have been kept under special surveillance.
Batch and group-based discussions and meetings of officials are being held at various places about how the next election will be and what may happen. Due to such information, police and civil administration officials are being closely monitored by various government agencies.
Last week, Information and broadcasting ministry secretary Md Mokbul Hossain has been sent on retirement along with three officers of SP (Superintendent of Police) rank of police. After this, police and civil administration officials have taken the matter with utmost importance. However, none of the concerned agreed to speak on this matter.
Several members of the previous (2014-18) term and the current cabinet spoke to Bangladesh Pratidin on condition of anonymity. They said after the formation of the government, the officials come to ministers for various kinds of lobbying. If one of the relatives had been in politics for some time, they don’t forget to promotion with his reference.
But they are the ones who enjoy the government privileges for the entire term and try to be impartial before the elections. The government is also aware of these issues. Strict surveillance instructions have already been given for this.
Those concerned say that many pro-BNP officials have been appointed in the police and civil administration in the last few years. Many have complained that BNP-Jamaat backed persons have been posted in Dhaka and important places, especially in the police administration.
They have been accused of leaking important informations, the police are also accused of helping BNP's movement in various cases. Similarly, allegations of building a network of BNP-Jamaat backed persons within the civil administration is not new. Complaints are also heard that they sent various decisions and information of the government to BNP through WhatsApp and messenger groups. They are also alleged to be involved in anti-government activities in some cases.
In such a reality, several intelligence agencies of the government investigated the matter and brought it to the attention of the government. Soon after, the government started an inquiry into various individuals, which is still ongoing.
Sources said specific complaints have been received against several officials of the civil administration. Allegations are being looked into and strict action will be taken against them if the allegations are finally proved to be true.
Apart from the administration, several responsible sources of the Ministry of Home Affairs have said that the police have also started a clean-up operation. Around 150 to 200 officers from various levels of the police are said to be under surveillance.
According to several responsible sources, there is going to be a major reshuffle in the administration by next December. About eight to ten secretaries will retire within a few days.
Experts said that the government does not want to take any risk ahead of the next 12th national elections. This is a strong message from the government to those who do not trust the government or those who are leaning towards the opposition political parties. After the incident of compulsory retirement, a kind of unrest started in the administration.
Sources said that some of those who have received special benefits from the administration and even become secretaries during the current government are not completely happy. Dissatisfaction in their minds due to not being able to become the secretary of a bigger or more important ministry.
These officials think that maybe he is not close to the government so he has been deprived of important ministries. Apart from this, factionalism is extreme among those who claim to be supporters of their government or Awami League. All in all, no one can trust anyone.
@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on October 22, 2022 and has been rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan.
