For the first time in decades, the Ministry of Public Administration has been without a secretary for more than a week, as the interim government walks a tightrope over new appointments amid allegations of political affiliation.
Mokhesh Ur Rahman – who was appointed senior secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration on a contractual basis for two years following the fall of the Awami League regime in August last year – was transferred to the Planning Commission on 21 September.
Immediately after his appointment, he came to the limelight for activities, including a widespread reshuffle in the civil administration, followed by allegations of his involvement in irregularities. However, the reason for his sudden transfer remains unclear.
“We did not see the post of the public administration secretary remain vacant at least for the last two decades,” a deputy secretary told TIMES of Bangladesh, on the condition of anonymity.
Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder – a former cabinet secretary and civil service expert – said he has no idea when the post of public administration secretary last remained vacant.
He claimed that the activities of the ministry are ongoing and that there is no problem with the regular functions.
Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud acknowledged the government’s struggle in making new appointments.
“We cannot decide on who will be the secretary of public administration,” Wahiduddin told TIMES on Sunday night.
However, officials said the indecision has caused the Ministry of Public Administration to stall on key decisions such as appointments, transfers, and promotions.
“This is an officer who performs the duties of the secretary, but the reality is that the officer does not make serious decisions due to uncertainty,” an official of the ministry said.
Following the student-led uprising, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government reshuffled the administration, dismissing many officials on allegations of their affiliation with the Awami League, while recruiting many retired officials with retrospective promotions, claiming they had been deprived over the last 15 years.
Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud expressed concern over the lack of discipline and the difficulty of verifying past political affiliations to ensure fair treatment. He said any appointment is quickly dismissed as being tied to Jamaat, aligned with the BNP, or loyal to the previous regime.
“But it is not as though there exists a vast information database that can instantly determine whether an official has partisan leanings or past political affiliations,” said Wahiduddin Mahmud.
In January 2025, the government formed a six-member Committee on Public Administration to recommend appointments, transfers, and disciplinary actions for government officials, district commissioners, and those in joint secretary positions and above.
Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, and Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam, along with the cabinet secretary and public administration secretary, are the members of the committee.
When asked about the delay in appointing a new public administration secretary, Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid told TIMES that some members of the committee are abroad.
“It is the chief adviser’s ministry, he will make the decision. He is abroad now. Until the chief adviser comes home, nothing will happen,” said the Cabinet secretary.
When asked about the instability surrounding the appointment of government officials and the allegations, he declined to comment.
“I will not make any comment on it,” said Sheikh Abdur Rashid.
