The government has sent 32 former deputy commissioners (DCs) who served as returning officers during the controversial 2018 parliamentary elections during the Awami League retime, into compulsory retirement.
The Ministry of Public Administration issued a gazette notification on Monday in this regard.
According to the notification, the officials, who were serving as officers on special duty (OSDs) at the rank of joint secretary, have completed 25 years of service and sent into retirement under Section 45 of the Government Service Act, 2018 in the public interest.
They will be entitled to retirement benefits in accordance with the existing rules, it said.
Those sent into compulsory retirement include former DCs Md Majedur Rahman Khan (Chandpur), Md Abul Fazal Mir (Cumilla), Md Aslam Hossain (Kushtia), Moinul Islam (Netrokona), Mohammad Daudul Islam (Bandarban), Md Shahriar (Natore), Kazi Abu Taher (Shariatpur), AZM Nurul Haque (Chapainawabganj), Md Mizanur Rahman (Mymensingh), Mohammad Elias Hossain (Chattogram), Anjan Chandra Pal (Lakshmipur), AKM Mamunur Rashid (Rangamati), Md Kamal Hossain (Cox's Bazar), Md Abdul Ahad (Sunamganj), Md Jasim Uddin (Pabna), Saroj Kumar Nath (Jhenaidah), Md Shahidul Islam (Khagrachhari), Md Wahiduzzaman (Feni), SM Azior Rahman (Barishal), Mohammad Masud Alam Siddique (Bhola), Md Matiul Islam Chowdhury (Patuakhali), Nazia Shirin (Nilphamari), SM Abdul Quader (Rajshahi), Md Ali Akbar (Magura), Mahmudul Kabir Murad (Habiganj), Md Sarwar Murshed Chowdhury (Kishoreganj), Syeda Farhana Kawnain (Narsingdi), Mohammad Helal Hossain (Khulna), Anar Kali Mahbub (Sherpur), Mosammat Sultana Parvin (Kurigram), SM Ferdous (Manikganj) and Gopal Chandra Das (Chuadanga).
On February 20 last year, the then interim government made 33 former DCs who had served as returning officers in the 2018 parliamentary election OSDs. Since then, they had been serving as joint secretaries in different ministries and departments.
The 11th parliamentary election was held on December 30, 2018, in which the Awami League-led alliance secured an overwhelming majority to form the government.
The election, however, was marred by widespread allegations of irregularities, ballot stuffing and vote rigging before and during polling.
According to an enquiry commission constituted by the then interim government on June 26, 2025, the three national elections held in 2014, 2018 and 2024 were orchestrated at the highest levels of the state, with segments of the administration, police, Election Commission, and intelligence agencies mobilised to implement the plans.
The National Election Investigation Commission submitted its report to then Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on January 12 this year.
According the commission, the 2018 polls saw overnight ballot stamping in 80 percent of voting centres to secure the Awami League’s victory.
“Within the administration, there was a form of dishonest competition to ensure the party’s win, resulting in voter turnout figures exceeding 100 percent in some centres,” it had said.
The commission also noted that during those elections, control of the electoral process moved away from the EC to the administration.