BTRC Beset by Breach: Six Officials Made OSD over Recruitment Irregularities
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has designated six of its officials as Officers on Special Duty (OSD) following allegations of irregularities in recruitment and promotions.
Those reassigned include Director General (Legal and Licensing Division) Ashish Kumar Kundu, Director M. A. Taleb Hossain, Director Aftab Md. Rashedul Wadud, Director Md. Ayakub Ali Bhuiyan, Deputy Director Md. Asaduzzaman, and Deputy Director Begum Sharmin Sultana.
On July 30, the Department of Posts and Telecommunications, based on the findings of three inquiry committees and signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Mohammad Shahidullah, instructed BTRC to make the accused officials OSD. Each of them has also received separate letters regarding the decision.
According to sources, while the accused continue to attend office in their new capacity, their signing authority has been suspended until the White Paper Committee publishes its report.
The inquiry committees found that of the 29 candidates recruited based on the recommendations of the recruitment committee and the commission meeting’s decision, 15 were ineligible under the stated age and educational qualifications of the job circular.
BTRC sources further revealed that 15 of those irregularly recruited individuals have already resigned.
The investigation also uncovered that former Commissioner Dr. Mushfiq Mannan Chowdhury served in the role without a contractual agreement with the government. The report noted, “The former Commissioner of BTRC, Dr. Mushfiq Mannan Chowdhury, enjoyed all the benefits of the post without signing any contract with the government, which is against regulations. Despite repeated correspondences, no action was taken.” The Department of Posts and Telecommunications has directed BTRC to recover the salaries and allowances he had received.
The inquiry committee further found that Director General Ashish Kumar Kundu caused undue delays by seeking decisions without specific recommendations from commission meetings and by delaying responses to official communications. For instance, “On September 13, 2023, the Department of Posts and Telecommunications sent a letter, to which he replied only on December 21—three months later—without a concrete proposal,” the report said.
The irregularities extended to promotions as well. Director M. A. Taleb Hossain was promoted despite completing only three years and 26 days of service as Deputy Director (Systems and Services), instead of the required four years, in violation of BTRC’s Service Regulations 2009 (amended). An audit report noted that Hossain—identified as the nephew of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s political advisor H. T. Imam—secured his promotion to Director of Enforcement and Inspection Division through fraudulent means. The government audit department had recommended cancellation of the irregular promotion and recovery of excess salary, but the recommendation was ignored.
Similarly, Director Aftab Md. Rashedul Wadud was promoted after serving only one year and 22 days, instead of the required four years, while Director Md. Ayakub Ali Bhuiyan received promotion after just six months and one day as Deputy Director.
Deputy Director Asaduzzaman was found to have been appointed without the necessary educational qualifications, while Deputy Director Begum Sharmin Sultana was recruited and later regularized and promoted despite lacking both the required qualifications and minimum age criteria.
