The special surveillances are going on over the government officials in the country. According to the authorities concerned, this initiative has been taken in order to keep the ongoing development of the government intact and hold the next national election in free, fair and unbiased manner.

According to some of the authorities concerned, this initiative has been taken so that the responsible officials cannot falls into the trap of domestic and foreign gangs and inform the government if anyone has already fallen. This responsibility has been given to various agencies of the government. They will inform the higher level of the government. Sources confirmed that such a decision was taken in a high-level meeting held in the Ministry of Home Affairs recently. Those concerned say that the various provocations of the anti-government stage for various reasons including the visa policy of the United States are forcing the government to take such an initiative. In the meantime, the recent records of many officials have also been accumulated at a high level. If necessary, they might be sent on compulsory retirement.

In addition, there is currently a discussion between administration and police officials about the US visa policy as many of their family members are living permanently in the United States, Europe for study and business. On the other hand, seeing such a situation, the government is also looking for ways to keep the morale of the officials high. The government wants to ensure that the officers who have been promoted repeatedly during the current government do not break down mentally ahead of of elections.

An official of the rank of joint secretary, who did not want to mention his name, told this reporter, “There are some officials working in the republic who highly lauded the government in the past, but now, whenever they get an opportunity, they are becoming vocal in criticizing the government in various quarters. Maybe special surveillance is being organized for officials like them.”

According to several sources, it was decided in that high-level meeting to keep the movements of various government officials including the suspects under cyber monitoring. Some of the officials who participated in the meeting expressed their opinion about who they are talking to, who is coming to meet them. If necessary, their close people should also be kept under surveillance, they opined. The very important meeting held at the beginning of this month was attended by top and influential officials of various government agencies. Meanwhile, another round of reshuffles is taking place in the police and administration before the national elections. Superintendent of Police and Deputy Secretary are getting promoted. Apart from the reshuffle due to the retirement of some secretaries, new faces are coming to important posts like AD (Additional Secretary) in the recruitment, promotion and posting department of the Ministry of Public Administration. Sources have confirmed that 8-10 people are being withdrawn from the post of Deputy Commissioner of Field Administration. However, in the meantime, it has been decided to promote 195 officers of the 29th batch of the administration cadre to the post of Deputy Secretary.

Furthermore, APD from Divisional Commissioner and DC of 8-10 districts are being removed from field level. On October 2, in the conference room of the Cabinet Division, this recommendation was taken into consideration in the Superior Selection Board (SSB) meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain. 195 candidates from the regular batch are being considered outside the promotion list in the SSB meeting. According to the source, on October 31 last year, two police officers were sent to retirement before the end of their term. The two retired officers are - Alamgir Alam, the Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police of Crime Investigation Department in Dhaka and Mahbub Hakim, the Additional Deputy Inspector General of Dhaka Tourist Police. Earlier on October 18, the government sent three officers of the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) to retirement. They are CID's Mirza Abdullahel Baki and Md. Delwar Hossain Mia and Police Headquarters SP (TR) Muhammad Shahidullah Chowdhury.

Earlier, on October 16, before the end of the fixed period of employment, the government sent Information and Broadcasting Secretary Md. Maqbul Hossain to retirement.

(The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on October 13 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque)