After being an officer on special duty for more than six years, joint secretary AKM Jahangir, who had reportedly met BNP chief Khaleda Zia a week ago, was sent on forced retirement yesterday.
A gazette notification issued by the public administration ministry mentioned no specific reason but stated that Jahangir had been sent on retirement in "public interest".
State Minister for Public Administration Ministry Ismat Ara Sadique and Senior Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser told media on Sunday that having such a meeting was a serious breach of civil service rules.
They said an enquiry was going on and action would be taken against all who attended the meeting.
State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan claimed to have gotten a list of the people present in the meeting with Khaleda but he did not disclose the names.
A day after the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina categorically told a news conference that action would be taken as per law against the people who attended the meeting.
Yesterday's gazette notification, signed by the head of appointments, postings and deputations of the public administration ministry, Mohibul Haq, mentioned that Jahangir had completed 25 years in civil service and he could be sent on retirement as per the PublicServants (Retirement) Act, 1974.
It added that he would enjoy all retirement benefits.
Jahangir, who worked as the head of appointments, postings and deputations during the regime of BNP-Jamaat alliance government from 2001 to 2006, was made OSD a few days after Awami League assumed office in January 2009. He was among many whom the Awami League branded as BNP loyalists and were not considered for good postings and promotion in the last six years.
Jahangir is the first officer who was sent on forced retirement since the Awami League was re-elected a year ago. In its previous term, the Awami League had sent six senior bureaucrats on forced retirement without showing any reason.
When asked last night, Senior Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser declined to make comments whether the action against Jahangir was a result of their enquiry. He also refused to say if Jahangir had attended the meeting and if the action was its result.
Sources in the Secretariat said the action was taken according to reports of various intelligence agencies.
However, some officers who know Jahangir well claimed that he was not even in the country let alone be in a meeting with Khaleda.
There is, however, no confusion about Jahangir's involvement in the Uttara conspiracy eight years ago.
On November 24, 2006, a group of former and serving senior civil servants, known to be close to BNP, joined a secret party hosted by Mahmudur Rahman at his business Artisan's office in Uttara. Now in custody, Mahmudur Rahman was then energy adviser to Khaleda.
According to sources, more than 50 serving civil servants attended a meeting with Khaleda at her Gulshan office on December 4.
The officers included a joint secretary, three deputy secretaries and a senior assistant secretary. All of them were officers on special duty, a position considered a punishment, said sources in the BNP.
They said a few former secretaries, including an ex-cabinet secretary, led the group in the meeting.
Insiders in the BN P said the meeting was aimed at staging a Janatar Manch (people's platform) style movement for having a general election next year.
Some BNP leaders believe movements involving civil servants like what the Awami League had done in 1996 by forming the Janatar Mancha would be more effective than street agitations.
As per the Public Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1985, public servants cannot hold meetings with political leaders.