PMO, edn, religious affairs secys relieved of duties

111Special Correspondent
The government has attached three senior secretaries to the Ministry of Public Administration, withdrawing them from their respective assignments, according to separate notifications issued on Monday.

The officials attached to the ministry are Prime Minister's Office Secretary Md Saifullah Panna, Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Rehana Parveen, and Religious Affairs Secretary Md Kamal Uddin.

The Ministry of Public Administration stated that the decisions were made in the public interest, as these appointments were contractual and ended with the completion of their terms.

This marks the first time since the BNP government returned to power that three top bureaucrats serving in regular posts have been withdrawn simultaneously. However, no replacements have yet been appointed to fill the vacancies.

The government has cancelled the remaining terms of the contracts of nine secretaries and senior secretaries, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Monday.

The officials whose contracts were cancelled include Planning Commission members Mokhles Ur Rahman, SM Akmal Hossain, and Qayyum Ara Begum; World Bank Alternate Executive Director Sharifa Khan; Health Department Secretary Md Saidur Rahman; ICT Department Secretary Sheesh Haider Chowdhury; National Planning and Development Academy DG (Senior Secretary) Siddique Jobayer; Land Appeal Board Chairman Mohammad Yusuf; and Women and Children Affairs Ministry Secretary Momtaz Ahmed.