Warehouse inspection without minister’s knowledge; APS removed

Food Minister’s Assistant Private Secretary (APS) Md Abdul Awal Bulbul has been permanently relieved of his duties after  allegedly arranging an official itinerary to inspect a government food warehouse without the minister’s knowledge.

The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification on Monday (October 26), confirming his removal. 

The notification was issued by the ministry’s Internal Appointment Wing and signed by Deputy Secretary Md Mahmud Ullah Maruf.

In a separate notification issued the same day, Md Mizanur Rahman, a resident of Char Bongkhuri village in Manikganj Sadar upazila, was appointed as the food minister’s new APS.

Earlier, the Food Ministry had also removed the minister’s personal officer, Md Rafiqul Islam, in connection with the same incident.

According to sources at the Food Ministry, Bulbul visited the office of the Nagarpur upazila food controller and a government food warehouse in Tangail on October 11.

An official tour schedule for the visit had been issued on October 8 under the signature of Rafiqul Islam, the minister’s personal officer. However, allegations emerged that the food minister had not been informed of the visit.

The incident drew criticism after it became known that the warehouse inspection had been arranged without the minister’s knowledge. Following the controversy, the APS was relieved of his responsibilities in accordance with the minister’s wishes.

A Public Administration Ministry official said the decision to remove Bulbul came after criticism over the preparation of an official tour schedule and the warehouse inspection without the minister’s approval.

The official added that the food minister subsequently decided to remove the APS from his post.