Hectic lobbying for DLS DG post

Staff Reporter :
Livestock officials are lobbying with the higher authority for getting blessings of them becoming the Director General of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

Stakeholders urge the government not to appoint any controversial official to the lucrative post as the department plays an important role in developing the country’s livestock sector.

The tenure of the current DG Dr Emdadul Haque Talukder is ending February 27 and the new DG is expected to take charge in early of the next month (March).

Following this, the officials, are in the race of becoming DG, have already started contracting with the higher authority to get their blessing.

Speculations are rife whether the current DG will reappoint on contractual basis or any new official will be recruited for the position.

Although the Public Administration Ministry will appoint the new DG, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has an important role in appointing this post as the DLS is an important agency of the ministry.

The department is working on field level for development and expansion of livestock sector including dairy and poultry industry.

Farm assistance programs are ongoing with purchases worth hundreds of crores of taka for nearly two dozen projects.

As per the government service rule, the current DG Emdadul is going to retire at the end of this month. But, he is lobbying with the higher authority to get appointment on contractual basis, the ministry sources said.

They also said that the name of Emdadul is in the ministry’s good book as he is the son of Gopalganj and will get extra benefit for this.

On the other hand, Dr Reyazul Haque Jasim, Director (Administration) of the DLS, is also very active to get appointment for the post. Earlier he held various posts of the department and ministry.

Even though his name is in the gradation list as a special BCS officer, he was allegedly involved with various irregularities during charging his previous posts.

It is also alleged that illegal importation of meat into Bangladesh started from his hands. Following this, the owners of the dairy firms don’t want to see him as DG of the DLS. Besides, Dr Reyazul is also known as a pro-BNP government official.

Besides, Dr Zakir Hossain (Special BCS), Dr Md Abu Sufian (19th BCS and Director of DLS), Dr Moloy Kumer Sur and Dr ABM Khalekuzzaman, among the Directors, are also in line to become the DG post, the ministry sources said.