Dhaka, Jan 13 (V7N) — The Ministry of Public Administration has cancelled the appointments of six members of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) following public controversy and demands from students and job seekers. The notification was issued on Monday, January 13.

The six members whose appointments were revoked are:

  • Professor Dr. Syeda Shahina Sobhan
  • Sabbir Ahmed Chowdhury
  • Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. AF Jaglul Ahmed
  • Md. Munir Hossain
  • Professor Dr. Shahnaz Sarkar
  • Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman

The cancellation comes amid allegations that three of the members were beneficiaries of political favouritism under the Awami League government. Protests erupted after it was revealed that:

Dr. Syeda Shahina Sobhan is the daughter of a former MP from Jamalpur-5 constituency, elected with an Awami League nomination. She is also reported to be a close associate of former Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni.

Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. AF Jaglul Ahmed, who served as the Director General of DGFI from 2014 to 2018, was seen as a politically influenced appointment.

Concerns were raised about the qualifications and political connections of others as well.

On January 12, a group of Dhaka University students issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding the cancellation of these appointments, labelling them as politically motivated and unfair to job seekers.

In response to mounting pressure, the Ministry of Public Administration took swift action, revoking all six appointments. The decision has been welcomed by students and job seekers, who view it as a step towards ensuring transparency and meritocracy in the PSC.

The PSC is responsible for recruiting civil servants and plays a vital role in upholding the integrity of Bangladesh's public service system. The controversy and subsequent cancellations underscore the importance of maintaining impartiality in such critical appointments.

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