Allegations of Administrative Harassment Surface in Agriculture Ministry

A fresh controversy has emerged within Bangladesh’s agriculture administration over allegations of politically motivated harassment, suspensions, and forced transfers involving several BCS Agriculture Cadre officers.

The issue came into public discussion after the BCS Agriculture Cadre Association held a press conference at the Reporters Unity following the political developments surrounding August 5.

According to statements presented at the press conference, officers who allegedly showed support for Sheikh Hasina during demonstrations on August 4 became targets of administrative action. The association claimed that former Agriculture Secretary Dr. Emdad Ullah Mian temporarily suspended three nationalist-minded BCS agriculture officers, issued show-cause notices to 19 others, and later transferred many of them outside Dhaka in what they described as punitive postings.

Speakers at the event alleged that the affected officers had already experienced professional deprivation for nearly 17 years and were subjected to further harassment during the final year of the outgoing secretary’s tenure.

The press conference also raised allegations that officials perceived as loyal to the Awami League were repeatedly rehabilitated and reassigned to positions at Khamarbari, while opposing officers faced discrimination. Organizers noted that Dr. Emdad Ullah Mian had previously served as Member Secretary of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Birth Centenary Celebration committee and was associated with the nationwide Mujib mural construction initiative.

Although the current government later retired the former agriculture secretary, the association claimed that no effective steps have yet been taken to reinstate the suspended officers or investigate allegations of partisan favoritism within the ministry.

The affected officers are now urging the government’s top leadership to ensure their reinstatement and provide fair postings at Khamarbari. They further alleged that politically aligned officials still active within different levels of the Ministry of Agriculture continue to obstruct justice and maintain pressure on deprived officers.

No official response from the Ministry of Agriculture was immediately available regarding the allegations.