Fascist-era figures still in SSB
The continued presence of officials accused of serving the interests of the previous Awami League (AL) government on the Superior Selection Board (SSB) has raised serious questions about the government’s reform drive and its commitment to restoring fairness in the civil service.
Finance Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Mazumder and Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Md Nurul Islam, both SSB members, are accused of using their influence to block the promotion of officials who opposed undemocratic decisions during Sheikh Hasina’s 15-and-a-half-year rule.
The SSB is the key mechanism
for senior civil service promotions. Headed by the cabinet secretary, it includes the secretaries of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, with the CAG serving as an ex-officio member.
Merit, experience, performance and service records are considered in promotion decisions, alongside financial and administrative assessments.
Critics now question whether officials associated with the previous administration should continue to exercise such influence over career decisions in a reformed state machinery.
Of the 64 secretaries serving under the previous government, Khairuzzaman, Nurul Islam and Financial Institutions Division Secretary Najma Mobarek are among those who reportedly secured key postings with the backing of Sheikh Hasina and former Bangladesh Bank governor Abdur Rouf Talukder.
Finance secretary under fire
Khairuzzaman joined the civil service in 1993 as a member of the 11th BCS administration cadre and later moved to the Customs, Excise and VAT cadre.
He served as secretary to former state Minister for Power And Energy Nasrul Hamid from 3 January to 22 August 2023.
He played a role in controversial energy-sector contracts, the indemnity law and fuel procurement practices that allegedly enabled the outflow of large sums of money.
It also alleges that he was appointed secretary of the Finance Division on the recommendations of Rouf Talukder and former prime minister’s adviser Salman F Rahman.
His post-retirement leave is due to begin on the 12th of this month. Reports surfaced that a one-year contractual appointment is being considered, with a summary reportedly sent to the Ministry of Public Administration.
CAG faces wider allegations
Nurul Islam’s appointment as CAG has also come under scrutiny. He maintained links with senior figures of the previous government and resisted calls to leave office following the July 2024 mass uprising.
He has been named in FIR No. 208 at Mohammadpur police station over the killing of students during the July violence.
The article further alleges audit manipulation, nepotism, irregular recruitment and financial mismanagement.
Among the claims are that he passed off a 2021-22 audit report prepared by former auditor general Muslim Chowdhury as his own, arranged government jobs for relatives and oversaw questionable expenditure, including Tk11.5 crore for renovating Public Works Department houses between 2020-21 and 2023-24.
It also alleges Tk27 lakh was deposited through fake bills in March and April and claims commissions were taken in recruitment and promotion decisions through family members.
Reform credibility at stake
The two officials’ continued presence on the SSB has contributed to deserving officials being denied promotion, while some have faced departmental cases or been made OSDs.
It further claims that intelligence information links the two to an attempt to create disorder at the Secretariat and alleges that sensitive government information has been passed abroad.
The allegations, if established, would raise broader questions about the credibility and neutrality of the government’s administrative reform process.
Meanwhile, officials inside the ministries call for the two officials to be removed from the SSB and for any extension of their tenure to be reconsidered.
It also questions the promotion of Golam Kabir, described as an Awami-minded official, and the 30 June 2026 recommendation to promote Nashid Nawazesh, daughter of Colonel Nowajesh, who was executed for the assassination of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, alleging that relevant information was withheld from the SSB.
For comment, calls were made to State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari and Senior Secretary Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury. Neither answered the calls or responded to WhatsApp messages.
