BTRC: Two Writ-Filing Deputy Directors Reassigned Outside Dhaka

Two Deputy Directors of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) were transferred outside Dhaka.

The order in this regard was issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on on Tuesday, 31 March.

The concerned officials have alleged that these transfer decisions were made immediately after the filing of a writ petition in the High Court, which many perceive as a punitive measure.
 
An office order issued by the Human Resource Development and Management Division of BTRC stated that Deputy Director Sanjib Kumar Singha has been transferred from the Enforcement and Inspection Directorate to the Rangpur Spectrum Monitoring Station, while Deputy Director S. M. Afzal Reza has been attached from the Spectrum Division to the Sylhet Monitoring Station. The order further stated that “the concerned officials must be released from their current workplaces immediately; otherwise, they will be considered ‘stand released’ by the afternoon of 2 April.”
 
Sources concerned said that these two officials, along with four others, recently filed a writ petition in the High Court against what they described as ‘illegal and controversial’ recruitments and administrative irregularities within BTRC. The issuance of transfer orders shortly after the filing of the writ has raised questions in various quarters, with many viewing it as an administrative reaction. It has also been alleged that such transfers could be questionable where no corresponding posts exist in the receiving offices.
 
Several officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that such swift transfers following a legitimate legal process like approaching the court could create an atmosphere of fear or uncertainty within the administration. They believe this may discourage officials from taking legal action against irregularities in the future.
 
At the same time, a 2008 office order involving the creation of 369 posts has also reportedly come under scrutiny.