State Minister Clarifies Deployment Of Sylhet DC Sarwar

The State Minister for Public Administration, Md. Abdul Bari, has stated that the transfer of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Sylhet, Md. Sarwar Alam, should not be linked to his recent initiatives to bring financial transparency to the income and expenditure of local shrines (mazars) or any other external factors. The State Minister emphasised that no individual is “indispensable” in any specific administrative position. Furthermore, he announced that the government would soon issue a new official posting for the outgoing official.

On Sunday, 21 June 2026, the government officially withdrew Md. Sarwar Alam from his position as the Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet. A formal notification was issued on the day, attaching him to the Ministry of Public Administration. However, the issued administrative order did not specify the exact reason behind his removal from the post of DC. Following the release of the notification, the decision sparked widespread discussion and extensive criticism across various social media platforms.

Normal Administrative Procedure, States Minister

When external media outlets sought his reaction regarding the public discussion surrounding the transfer, the State Minister for Public Administration remarked that there was no valid reason for debate or criticism regarding the decision. He explained that the transfer of government officials constitutes an entirely normal administrative procedure within the civil service framework. He noted that it remains a regular operational activity of the government where one official moves from one location to another, while another official arrives to take over the administrative responsibilities.

Many observers and members of the public have drawn a direct correlation between the sudden transfer and the actions recently initiated by Sarwar Alam regarding alleged financial irregularities in the income and expenditure accounts of the prominent shrines in Sylhet. When this perspective was brought to the attention of the State Minister, he responded by dismissing the connection, stating that people should not conflate the two separate events. He questioned what relationship a shrine’s financial monitoring could possibly have with an official transfer, reiterating that a transfer is a routine administrative process that can happen at any time and should not be linked to other issues.

Social Media Criticism and Institutional Attachment

Addressing the ongoing criticisms floating on social media platforms concerning this administrative decision, the State Minister reiterated that this is standard government practice. He emphasized that government officials do not hold permanent tenure over any specific station or posting. According to his statement, officials are expected to arrive, depart, and execute their assigned duties accordingly, as no individual remains indispensable to any single geographic location or administrative office. He added that if an officer performs their duties competently, it is natural for the public to appreciate and respect them, as delivering good work is the fundamental responsibility of any government official.

In response to queries regarding why Md. Sarwar Alam has not yet been assigned to a new specific designation, the State Minister explained the standard human resource protocols of the civil service. He stated that whenever officials are withdrawn from an active department or district assignment, they are systematically attached to the Ministry of Public Administration as an initial step. Following this preliminary attachment, their new official postings are determined. He assured that since Sarwar Alam has now been brought under the ministry, he will subsequently be deployed to a new administrative position in due course.

Professional Background and Notable Career History

Md. Sarwar Alam is an officer of the Administration Cadre belonging to the 27th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) batch. He previously achieved widespread national recognition and public acclaim during his tenure as an Executive Magistrate for the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit of the Bangladesh Police. While holding the rank of Senior Assistant Secretary, he conducted more than three hundred successful anti-adulteration drives, anti-corruption mobile courts, and enforcement raids across the country. His stringent operations against food adulteration, corporate malpractice, and systemic institutional irregularities earned him extensive commendation from the general public.

The Ministry of Public Administration functions as the central personnel management agency for the Government of Bangladesh, responsible for regulating institutional postings, transfers, and promotions across all operational tiers of the civil service. Under the existing framework, the position of a Deputy Commissioner serves as the principal administrative, revenue-collecting, and law-enforcement authority representing the central government within a specific district boundary. Sylhet District, located within the northeastern administrative division of Bangladesh, remains a major region of spiritual and historical significance, hosting several historically prominent religious shrines that attract substantial public interest and financial contributions.