Government paying salaries to three former DSHE DGs without assigning them work

The top position in the education administration is the director general (DG) of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE). The position now appears to be like a game of musical chairs. Eight people have lost the position in just two years. One served for only 20 days. Some served in an additional capacity. Three others became officers on special duty (OSD) after losing the position. The government is paying the salaries of these three officials without assigning them any work after they lost the top position in the education administration.

The main obstacle to assigning these three senior professors from the education cadre is the complex issue of rank, seniority and administrative balance. Officials concerned said there is currently no option for the education administration but to pay them salaries without assigning them work because of complications involving the annual confidential reports (ACRs) of former DGs and the chain of command.

There has been instability over the post of DSHE DG since the mass uprising of 2024. No one in the administration considers the replacement of eight DGs in two years normal. Three of them became OSDs. One had his contractual appointment cancelled and two served in an additional capacity. Surprisingly, one of them served as DG for only 20 days. No such incident had occurred before in the history of DSHE.

An investigation found that although the DSHE DG post carries Grade 1 status, education cadre officials can reach only Grade 3. Therefore, they are appointed to the post in an acting capacity.

DSHE provides around 400 types of services including education management, administrative decisions and teacher postings. Frequent changes at the top post have stalled administrative activities.

Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel has been serving as DG since April. However, there is internal unrest within the directorate. The current DG is also facing difficulties over transfers and postings, a conflict between the 14th batch and the DG’s 16th batch and internal groupings. There were reports that he could be removed. However, a former personal secretary to the education minister has managed the situation for now.

An analysis of the list showed that 48 people have so far served as DG of DSHE. There is no previous record of anyone being made OSD after being appointed to this top position. For the first time, three former DGs are serving as OSDs. The ministry is facing difficulties over them.

Every time the ministry tries to assign them to a position, various complications arise. The DG writes the ACRs of principals of all government colleges, directors of regional offices and directors of the directorate as well as other officials. The DG also supervises education administration officials at the district and upazila levels and officials of the directorate.

A person who once wrote the ACRs of officials may later be placed in a subordinate position within the same structure. This creates questions about administrative balance as well as self-respect.

All three former DGs currently serving as OSDs are officials from the 14th BCS batch. The current DG and directors are from the 16th batch. These issues have prevented the ministry from assigning them to new positions.

The latest such incident involved Professor B.M. Hannan. He was assigned to Titumir College but was later made OSD because of these complications.

DSHE director told Agamir Somoy that assigning an official to a regular college after serving as DG would be humiliating and inappropriate for that person.

If a former DG is assigned to a subordinate or equivalent position, administrative complications may arise over who will write his ACR and whose ACR he will write. Seniority is important in the education cadre. If a former DG is given a position where a junior official becomes his superior, questions may arise over the coordination of seniority, authority and responsibility.

How the Three DGs Became OSDs:After the political change in August 2024, the government cancelled the contractual appointment of Nehal Ahmed. He was the nephew of former president Abdul Hamid.

Shafiul Azam, director of the planning branch of the directorate, was given additional responsibility. On February 2 of the following year, Professor Dr. Ehteshamul Haque of the chemistry department at Patuakhali Government College was appointed DG.

However, controversy arose after it became known that he was a cousin of Sheikh Hasina and a trusted person of former Barishal City Corporation mayor Sadik Abdullah. He was also accused of handing over information about students involved in the July movement to law enforcement agencies.

The BNP aligned Teachers and Employees Unity Council then surrounded the Education Bhaban demanding his removal. He was made OSD after 20 days.

Professor Muhammad Azad Khan, an official from the 14th BCS batch, then took the DG’s chair following a recommendation from Mahfuz Alam, the then information adviser to the former interim government.

However, he too became OSD after only seven and a half months amid conflicts with then Education Secretary Siddiq Zubair and Education Adviser CR Abrar.

There was another reason behind his removal. While Azad Khan was serving as DG, the Education Ministry issued a notice seeking applications for a new DG. Considering this humiliating, Azad Khan himself applied to the ministry seeking release from his responsibilities. Taking the application into consideration, the government made him OSD on October 15, 2025.

On the same day, Professor B.M. Hannan, director of administration and colleges at the directorate, was given additional responsibility as DG. He was also an official from the 14th batch.

After six and a half months, the BNP government took office and he too was made OSD on May 15.

These three officials are now receiving salaries while serving as OSDs without assigned duties. Meanwhile, colleges in rural areas are facing a shortage of professors.

 Ehteshamul Haque openly admitted that being an OSD is difficult. He told Agamir Somoy:

“Being made OSD based on the allegation was the first mistake. The second mistake was not being able to assign me anywhere else. I am a teacher and I feel most comfortable in the classroom. I served as DG for 20 days. Being kept outside the classroom for nearly two years as a teacher simply because of that is truly painful to accept.”

Another former DG, B.M. Abdul Hannan, described a similar experience of frustration. He said:

“There had never been a practice of making someone OSD after serving in the top position of the education administration. Yet such an unwanted incident happened in my case. After I was assigned to Titumir College as an ordinary teacher, a logical question arose: How could a former DG become an ordinary teacher at a college? How would colleagues, batchmates or junior officials at that college accept it? I was made OSD because of that complexity and the administrative questions. Now what else can I do except spend my time sitting without an office or assigned duties?”

Although the DSHE DG post carries Grade 1 status in the government, education cadre officials can rise only to Grade 3. As a result, DGs are appointed in an acting capacity.

However, Fahima Khatun and Nehal Ahmed secured Grade 1 status by using their political connections.

8 DGs in Two Years: A total of 48 people have so far served as DG of DSHE. Mahbubur Rahman died in 2018 while serving in the position. The other DGs retired normally while holding the position.

Since August 2024, the DG position has changed hands eight times. Dr. A H M Karim served as DG for the longest period of five years and four months. He assumed office on September 3, 1984 and remained in the position until December 30, 1989.

On the other hand, Ehteshamul Haque served for the shortest period. He took charge on February 2, 2025 and became OSD on February 20. In other words, he served as DG for only 20 days.

DSHE oversees extensive activities through nine regional offices as well as at the district and upazila levels.

Repeated changes in the DG position, OSD appointments and the absence of a full time DG for long periods have created stagnation in teacher recruitment, MPO enlistment, adoption of government development projects and implementation of academic decisions and policies.

When asked about the overall situation, Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division Abdul Khaleque told Agamir Somoy: “Seniority and junior status are given serious consideration when making postings in the education cadre. Assigning someone to a college or office after they have served in a top position in the education administration may create complications related to seniority. We are considering the matter.”