LGED transfer policy upended in just 2 weeks

The government introduced a new policy at the beginning of this month to prevent nepotism, administrative influence and conflicts of interest in the transfer and posting of officials of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). However, allegations have emerged that the policy was breached within two weeks of its enforcement. Despite a government notification prohibiting such postings, an executive engineer has been posted to her own district.

An investigation has found that, through an office order issued on July 16, Jahanara Parvin, Executive Engineer (current charge) at LGED headquarters, was transferred to the Tangail district office. According to government records and National Identity Card (NID) information, both Jahanara Parvin and her husband have their permanent address in Madhupur upazila of Tangail district.

Earlier, a notification issued by the Local Government Division on July 2 regarding the transfer and posting of LGED officials stated that no LGED official could be posted to his or her own district or to the district of his or her spouse. The provision was introduced to ensure administrative neutrality and prevent conflicts of interest.

LGED implements various infrastructure development projects, including rural roads, bridges and educational institutions. As the agency handles projects worth thousands of crores of taka every year, the posting of officials to their own districts has long been considered a potential administrative risk. Several field-level officials alleged that despite the issuance of the new policy, the culture of lobbying and influence in the transfer process has not been completely eliminated.

When contacted, Jahanara Parvin acknowledged that both she and her husband have their permanent address in Tangail. However, she declined to comment on whether her posting was consistent with the new policy.

LGED Chief Engineer (current charge) Md Belal Hossain told the media the transfer decision was not his alone. He said the transfer was made at the direction of the LGRD minister.

"No unethical benefit was involved in the order. I do not take any decision without evidence," he said. 

However, he did not directly answer whether the posting was in conflict with the government notification.

Earlier, under the same policy, LGED Executive Engineer Md Kawser Alam in Lalmonirhat and Executive Engineer Md Ahsanuzzaman in Narayanganj were transferred to their respective home districts. The two orders were later cancelled following criticism.

However, as the Tangail posting remains in force despite similar allegations, questions have arisen among a section of LGED officials.

According to allegations received by The Daily Observer, Personal Secretary to the Admin Mohammad Sohel, office staff Jakir Hossain, Nur Nabi and Mohamad Rafiq Islam were involved in the transfers and postings. However, when contacted by The Daily Observer, they denied having exerted any influence over the process. 

They said their names had been brought up by conspirators as part of a plot against them and that they were not involved in any transfer.

Sohel and Nur Nabi, however, did not receive phone calls seeking their comments.

According to administrative analysts, the success of any reform-oriented policy depends on its uniform and impartial implementation. If the same policy is enforced in one case but exceptions are made in another, the credibility of the government's efforts toward transparency and accountability may come under question.

The issue now is whether the government will take any action regarding the controversial Tangail posting in light of the new policy.