Extensive changes in the Ministry of Local Government following adviser reshuffle

A significant reshuffle has unfolded at the Ministry of Local Government following the appointment of a new adviser, signalling a sweeping administrative reorganisation. Reports indicate that 13 senior officials, including the private secretary to the previous adviser, have already been transferred, with more changes expected in the coming weeks. Certain projects initiated under the previous adviser are also being reviewed and restructured.

Last year, three months after the formation of the interim government, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiya, one of the young leaders involved in the uprising, assumed the role of Local Government Adviser. Following the announcement of the 13th National Parliament election schedule, he resigned on 10 December to contest in the elections. The very next day, the ministry was placed under the supervision of Adilur Rahman Khan, who also holds portfolios in the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and the Ministry of Industries.

In the past fortnight, the ministry has witnessed extensive transfers. The scale of the reshuffle has sparked discussion both within and outside the public administration sector. Officials note that it is customary for a new adviser to restructure the ministry in line with their vision, similar to what Asif Mahmud had done during his tenure. However, sources suggest that officers with prior complaints against them have been among those transferred.

A review of the official transfer notifications shows that officials at the ranks of Deputy Secretary and Joint Secretary have been reassigned to other ministries. On 14 December, Deputy Secretaries Nur-e-Alam and Mohammad Shamim Bepari were transferred to the Planning Division, with orders stipulating that failure to report to the new department by 18 December would result in immediate release from the Ministry. Both officers have since joined their new assignments.

Other notable transfers include the private secretary to Asif Mahmud, Abul Hasan (Joint Secretary), who was moved to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources on 24 December. The reshuffle also involved multiple joint secretaries and deputy secretaries, as outlined in the table below:

Conversely, five officials from other ministries have been transferred into the Local Government Ministry, including Additional Secretary Aknur Rahman and Joint Secretaries Roksana Khan and Hosna Afroza.

The reshuffle has also affected projects initiated under Asif Mahmud’s tenure. Projects in his home district of Comilla, including the re-excavation of Archi and Buri rivers with an estimated cost of BDT 46 crore, and the Ghungor River and canals in Burichong and Brahmanpara costing BDT 45 crore, have been returned for review. The Planning Commission cited procedural lapses, such as inadequate staffing recommendations and missing surveys for red-category projects, recommending that the two projects be merged and reassessed before implementation.

Additionally, a large-scale rural infrastructure project in Comilla worth BDT 2,400 crore, initially proposed by Asif Mahmud, has been returned for further procedural review. Planning Commission Secretary Mostafizur Rahman told Prothom Alo that the project has not yet received cabinet approval but remains under consideration.

This ongoing reshuffle reflects the ministry’s adjustment to new leadership while ensuring procedural compliance for key development initiatives.