Following a change in the local government adviser, sweeping administrative changes have begun at the Ministry of Local Government. So far, 13 senior officials — including the former adviser’s personal secretary (PS) — have been transferred. There are indications that more officials may be reassigned in the coming days. Several projects approved during the previous adviser’s tenure are also being reorganized.

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, one of the young leaders of the uprising, was appointed local government adviser three months after the formation of the interim government last year. He resigned on December 10 to contest the 13th national parliamentary election after the election schedule was announced. The following day, Adilur Rahman Khan was given charge of the Local Government Ministry, in addition to his responsibilities for the Housing and Public Works Ministry and the Ministry of Industries.

In the two weeks after Adilur Rahman Khan assumed office, large-scale transfers took place within the ministry. The unusually high number of transfers at once has sparked discussion both inside and outside the civil administration. Officials say it is common for a new adviser to reorganize the ministry according to his own approach, just as his predecessor had done. However, a source claims that officials who had faced allegations at different times are also being removed.

A review of the transfer orders shows that several deputy secretary and joint secretary–level officials from the Local Government Ministry have been reassigned to other ministries. On December 14, two deputy secretaries — Nure Alam and Mohammad Shamim Bepari — were transferred to the Planning Division. They have since joined their new posts.

The former adviser’s personal secretary, Abdul Hasan (joint secretary), was transferred to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division on December 24. Other transferred officials include multiple joint secretaries and deputy secretaries holding key positions in the ministry.

At the same time, five officials from other ministries have been posted to the Local Government Ministry, including one additional secretary, two joint secretaries, and two deputy secretaries.

Senior officials from both the Local Government Ministry and the Ministry of Public Administration declined to comment officially on the transfers. However, they noted that officials who had been serving in the ministry for a long time are being moved out. Sources also say at least five more officials currently holding influential posts are likely to be transferred soon.

Meanwhile, several development projects initiated during Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan’s tenure are being sent back for review. After his resignation, the approval process for some projects — particularly those linked to his home district of Muradnagar in Cumilla — has been halted.

One such project involves the re-excavation of the Archi and Buri rivers at an estimated cost of Tk 460 million. The proposal was submitted to the Planning Commission in October for inclusion in the Annual Development Programme (ADP). Last week, the Planning Commission said the project did not follow several required procedures and has returned it.