Former secretary criticises eight advisers for alleged corruption

Banglapress Published: 23 September 2025, 10:25 AM

Former secretary criticises eight advisers for alleged corruption

Bangla Press Desk: Former Secretary and BNP Chairperson's Personal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar has claimed he possesses evidence of “extensive corruption” involving eight advisers of the interim government. Refraining from mentioning their names Sattar said, no important appointments or transfers take place without the influence of these advisers. He made the allegations on Friday during a seminar held at the BIAM Auditorium in Dhaka. Chief Secretary to the Chief Adviser M Siraj Uddin Miah was the chief guest at the event while Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan delivered the keynote speech. Other speakers included Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Mokhlesur Rahman; Secretary of the National Parliament Secretariat, Kaniz Mawla; Professor Syeda Lasna Kabir of the Department of Public Administration at Dhaka University; and Professor Shafiul Islam of the Department of Public Administration at Rajshahi University.

“I’m deeply disheartened,” Sattar said, adding “Civil servants may have lost their way, but I can provide concrete evidence of the limitless corruption involving at least eight advisers, who assumed power following the July uprising. Intelligence agencies have this information too. Yet, no action has been taken against them.” The seminar, titled "Expectations from the July Mass Uprising and the Future of Public Administration", was organised by the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association, the professional body representing members of the administration cadre. The seminar began at 4:00pm and concluded at 7:30pm, with most senior officers of the administration cadre present. Sattar further questioned why no action was taken despite reports of Tk200 crore being discovered in the account of an adviser’s APS (Assistant Private Secretary). “How can someone like Nurjahan Begum run a ministry as crucial as Health?” he asked. He further said, “And is it reasonable to hand over ministries such as Local Government and Youth & Sports to inexperienced advisers?”

According to Sattar, corruption has not decreased since the fall of the Awami League government following the popular uprising in July. On the contrary, it has worsened. He alleged that an Assistant Commissioner (Land) demanded Tk30 lac for the registration of land belonging to a school, while a UNO near Dhaka sought Tk20 lac for approving a factory layout. He also recounted his experience at the BNP office, where, after 5 August last year, thousands of officials and employees began visiting. “Tarique Rahman asked me, ‘Who are all these people? Why are they coming here?’ I replied, ‘These are people who have been deprived during the last 15 years of Hasina’s rule. They come now in hope of justice.’ He said, ‘It’s not appropriate for in-service officers to come to the party office. Please ask them not to come.’ I then put up a notice at the office gate prohibiting in-service officers from entering. If they have issues, they should go to the Officers’ Club.” During the three-and-a-half-hour seminar, numerous allegations of irregularities and corruption committed by administration cadre officials during the previous government’s 15.5-year tenure were raised. Some participants questioned how civil servants became political tools of the former government. Calls were made for ensuring that such officers refrain from serving any political party in future. Among the other speakers were Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho, brother of July uprising martyr Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho; Ramzan Ali, brother of martyr Abu Sayeed; Sabrina Afroze Sebonti, sister of martyr Mahmudur Rahman Saikat; and Sanjida Khan Dipti, mother of martyr Shahriar Khan Anas.

The keynote paper was presented by Sanowar Jahan Bhuiyan, Secretary to the Public Service Commission. The seminar was chaired by Nazrul Islam, President of the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association. In his opening remarks, the Association's Secretary General, Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, said that the public’s expectations of government officers had not been fulfilled. “If you listen carefully, you’ll hear many things being said in society,” he noted. “There were many flaws and deviations in the past 15 years. The biggest challenge now is to regain public trust—by breaking down the wall of distrust.” This article was originally published on Daily Sun. [Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.] B P/SP

[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]