The government has appointed Dr Abu Nasar Mohammad Abdullah, younger brother of Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, as new administrator of Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC). When contacted, Md Zakir Hossain, chief executive officer of the NCC, confirmed the message.
This will be Abdullah’s additional responsibility, as he is still serving as joint secretary at the Planning Wing–1 of the Local Government Division. He will now hold the NCC administrator position as an additional charge.
His appointment was announced through an official order issued by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) on 1 September. He formally assumed office earlier that month.
It also said Abdullah has replaced AHM Kamruzzaman, who has recently been promoted to additional secretary at the food ministry.
When contacted, Shafiqul Alam said, “I didn’t lobby the interim government to appoint my brother as the administrator of the Narayanganj City Corporation. I have not made a single phone call to the LGRD adviser, the appointing authority, the LGRD secretary, or any other adviser or secretary of the government regarding my brother’s appointment to this position.
“My brother, a joint secretary of the government, currently serves in the LGRD ministry. He was appointed as the temporary administrator of the NCC in addition to his full-time duties. There is absolutely no question of my influencing the government in this matter.”
He added, “My brother holds an MS degree from Germany and a PhD from Australia and a first class first from Dhaka University. He is a competent and qualified officer, and I have no need to lobby on his behalf. I don’t believe in nepotism. Over the past 15 months, I haven’t sought to influence the recruitment or promotion of any individual in government service.”
