A growing debate has emerged within Bangladesh Railway over allegations that the Ministry of Railways is increasingly exercising authority over transfer and posting matters traditionally handled by the railway administration under the existing Rules of Business and internal administrative framework.
The controversy has triggered wider concerns over overlapping assignments, bureaucratic jurisdiction, institutional autonomy and the balance of authority between the Railway Directorate and the ministry.
According to multiple internal sources, transfer powers relating to officials of the land estate division are now being exercised more directly by the ministry, reducing the operational discretion historically enjoyed by the Director General (DG) of Bangladesh Railway.
Officials said at least 18 employees, including field kanungos, have recently been transferred under this arrangement.
Insiders argue that such direct intervention by the ministry marks a departure from long-established administrative practice where postings and transfers were largely processed through the railway administration headed by the DG.
Sources alleged that employees seeking preferred postings often communicate with a powerful Additional Secretary of the ministry's administration wing. Those unable to contact her directly reportedly rely on intermediaries, including Rajshahi Chief Estate Officer Nadim Sarwar, who is alleged to facilitate communication and informal lobbying regarding transfer decisions.
The developments have raised questions among officials about whether the ministry is exercising powers beyond its policy coordination role by becoming directly involved in personnel administration, an area conventionally managed by the operational hierarchy of Bangladesh Railway.
Concerns have also surfaced regarding unusually long postings in several offices. One office assistant, Rafiqul Islam, reportedly has remained in the Rajshahi land office since 2017, while another official bearing the same name at the Kamalapur land office in Dhaka is said to have stayed in the same position for nearly 12 years.
Officials familiar with the matter said such prolonged tenures may indicate weak implementation of rotation policies and possible influence in posting management.
In contrast, office assistant Anwar Hossain, who received a promotion only eight months ago, was transferred from the Rajshahi Chief Estate Office to the Chattogram land office on February 5.
He alleged that his name was not initially included in the official transfer order and that subsequent changes altered his posting destination.
"My name was not in the original transfer list," Anwar Hossain told The Daily Observer. "Later adjustments influenced by lobbying resulted in my transfer."
Separate allegations of irregularities have also surfaced against office assistant Olive, who has been accused of involvement in bribery-related activities. Despite the allegations, he was transferred on December 7, 2025, from the Divisional Mechanical Engineer (Loco) office in Pakshi to the divisional estate office.
Field kanungo Shariful has also come under scrutiny. Sources claimed that during his previous posting at Parbatipur Kachari he faced serious allegations, including involvement in a murder-related case.
Although he was transferred from Pakshi to Chattogram on December 11, 2025, sources said he delayed joining his new workplace for several months before eventually reporting on March 21 this year.
Railway Secretary Fahimul Islam declined to comment in detail, saying he prefers direct communication and would not respond over the phone. Attempts to meet him at his office were unsuccessful.
Questions have also been raised regarding lower-tier survey staff, locally known as amins. Officials alleged that while some employees are being transferred frequently across divisions, many others continue in the same stations for 10 to 12 years allegedly due to informal influence networks and inconsistent enforcement of rotation policies.
Within the administration, insiders alleged that senior bureaucratic influence - particularly involving the secretary and Additional Secretary Rupoma Anwar - is playing an increasing role in shaping transfer decisions. However, these allegations remain unverified and have not been officially addressed by the ministry.
Officials familiar with railway administration said the current arrangement is unprecedented in Bangladesh Railway's institutional history, arguing that ministry officials are now directly preparing and executing transfer lists - a function previously handled by the railway administration under the DG's authority.
Sources further claimed that transfer lists are being prepared by Assistant Secretary Masud Alam from the ministry's land branch, while a file concerning alleged irregularities in promotion records under the Establishment E-3 branch remains pending at a senior level.
When contacted, DG Md Afzal Hossain said he was busy and unable to comment.
Joint Director General (Development-Infrastructure) Md Selim Rouf said the transfers were carried out following ministry instructions, while Deputy Director (Personnel-3) Rashed Latif stated that the decisions had been made on the basis of administrative recommendations and field-level observations.
