Former Submarine Cable MD elevated to Grade-3 despite financial probes and ICT tribunal hearings
July Internet Shutdown Accused Mirza Kamal Promoted
- Mirza Kamal Ahmed, accused of enforcing the July 2024 internet shutdown, receives promotion to Grade-3 General Manager
- Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications issued a promotion order on 7 September covering 20 telecom cadre officers
- Allegations during BSCPLC tenure include BDT 160 crore surge in uncollected dues, BDT 50 crore parked in S. Alam banks, and a BDT 97 crore profit drop.
DHAKA: Mirza Kamal Ahmed, the former Managing Director of Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCPLC) who faced interrogation at the International Crimes Tribunal for executing the nationwide internet shutdown during the July 2024 uprising, has been promoted by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. According to a ministry gazette issued on 7 September, Ahmed—listed fifth among 20 promoted telecom cadre officers—was elevated from Director (Engineer) Grade-4 to General Manager (Engineer) Grade-3. He currently serves as Deputy Managing Director (O&M) at BTCL.
During tribunal proceedings investigating crimes against humanity during the movement, Kamal testified that he severed both undersea submarine cable connections within 15 minutes following verbal directives from former State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak on the night of 18 July. However, company insiders allege he operated without formal ministry documentation, leveraging patron linkages with former Awami League MP Sajjadul Hassan. The interim government later removed him from BSCPLC, but no punitive administrative sanctions were enforced.
His operational record at BSCPLC reveals multiple irregularities. Deputed in 2016 as a DGM, he bypassed service benchmarks within two years to secure the post of GM (Admin & Finance), whereas permanent company recruits from 2009 remained stagnant for 17 years. Heading the recovery committee, his panel drew over BDT 20 lakh in allowances across 80+ meetings while company arrears climbed by BDT 160 crore. Breaching corporate investment mandates, around BDT 50 crore was deposited across three high-risk banks tied to the S. Alam Group. Under his management in FY 2023-24, BSCPLC's revenue contracted from BDT 515 crore to BDT 398 crore, while net profits plunged by BDT 97 crore down to BDT 182 crore.
The promotion of an officer directly implicated in the blackout and corporate mismanagement has sparked severe backlash within the cadre, amid reports that Kamal is actively lobbying to reclaim the BSCPLC Managing Director position.
//DBTech/APO/SME/FOET//
DHAKA: Mirza Kamal Ahmed, the former Managing Director of Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCPLC) who faced interrogation at the International Crimes Tribunal for executing the nationwide internet shutdown during the July 2024 uprising, has been promoted by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. According to a ministry gazette issued on 7 September, Ahmed—listed fifth among 20 promoted telecom cadre officers—was elevated from Director (Engineer) Grade-4 to General Manager (Engineer) Grade-3. He currently serves as Deputy Managing Director (O&M) at BTCL.
During tribunal proceedings investigating crimes against humanity during the movement, Kamal testified that he severed both undersea submarine cable connections within 15 minutes following verbal directives from former State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak on the night of 18 July. However, company insiders allege he operated without formal ministry documentation, leveraging patron linkages with former Awami League MP Sajjadul Hassan. The interim government later removed him from BSCPLC, but no punitive administrative sanctions were enforced.
His operational record at BSCPLC reveals multiple irregularities. Deputed in 2016 as a DGM, he bypassed service benchmarks within two years to secure the post of GM (Admin & Finance), whereas permanent company recruits from 2009 remained stagnant for 17 years. Heading the recovery committee, his panel drew over BDT 20 lakh in allowances across 80+ meetings while company arrears climbed by BDT 160 crore. Breaching corporate investment mandates, around BDT 50 crore was deposited across three high-risk banks tied to the S. Alam Group. Under his management in FY 2023-24, BSCPLC's revenue contracted from BDT 515 crore to BDT 398 crore, while net profits plunged by BDT 97 crore down to BDT 182 crore.
The promotion of an officer directly implicated in the blackout and corporate mismanagement has sparked severe backlash within the cadre, amid reports that Kamal is actively lobbying to reclaim the BSCPLC Managing Director position.
//DBTech/APO/SME/FOET//
