DG of DSHE to be Changed This Week

Ministry sources indicate that the five-member search committee, formed in late June, included two Additional Secretaries from the Ministry of Education and two senior officials from the Prime Minister's Office. The committee, established to identify comparatively honest and competent officials in the education administration, has finalized the names of three candidates and sent the list to the Prime Minister's Office. The proposed list includes Professor Mahfuzul Islam, Principal of Bogura Government Azizul Haq College; Professor Nazmul Haq, Director (College and Administration) of DSHE; and Professor Jahangir Alam, Secretary of the Comilla Education Board.

Among them, there is strong speculation that Mahfuzul Islam will be the new DG. While Nazmul Haq is the second preference, his chances are somewhat slimmer as he is a former batchmate and hallmate of the current DG, Sohel, from their university days. Professor Mahfuzul Islam declined to comment on the matter. During a conversation with Agami Samay (the media outlet), he stated that he is focused on working for the quality improvement of Azizul Haq College.

Last week, Education Minister Ehsanul Haq Milan told Agami Samay in his office, "I am not aware of the formation of a search committee for the new DG or the matter of appointing a new DG." Meanwhile, Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, Abdul Khaleq, told Agami Samay, "The DG is appointed by the Prime Minister's Office. I do not wish to comment on this matter."

How the Conflict with the Bogura Group Unfolded

The incident began recently over the posting of an Assistant Director in the College Branch of the DSHE Directorate. Based on the recommendation of a State Minister and an influential group from Bogura, an individual was posted to the college branch. Following this officer's posting, allegations surfaced that he was involved with a pro-Awami League panel during the education cooperative society elections and had published a piece regarding Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Centering on this issue, the DG, following ministry directives, prevented the officer from joining his post in Cox's Bazar. Later, the officer, through a Member of Parliament from Bogura and the State Minister, exerted pressure on the DG and managed to join. This led to a heated argument between Sohel and four officers from the Bogura faction in the DG's room. From that point on, the Bogura group essentially united to have DG Sohel removed. They were joined by an influential group from the Prime Minister's Office and the father-in-law of an Assistant Director-level officer working at DSHE, who is also an MP from Bogura.

According to senior administration officials, the DG position of DSHE has historically been a significant point of administrative balance. The government usually did not appoint anyone to this position from outside the Education Minister's preference or from other political or administrative spheres. During the 2009-2018 tenure of former Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, Professor Noman-ur-Rashid was the DG. Later, Professor Fahima Khatun, sister of Food Minister Kamrul Islam, and Professor Mahbubur Rahman, a confidant of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's brother-in-law, Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, became DGs. During the 2019-2024 tenure under former Education Ministers Dr. Dipu Moni and Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, several individuals including Professor Nehal Ahmed, a relative of former President Abdul Hamid, took charge as DG. All of them were considered outside the then Education Minister's personal choice.

Officials claim that during these tenures, there was a natural balance of power as the Minister and the DSHE DG maintained separate poles. However, many believe that this balance has been disrupted by giving sole charge to Dr. Sohel, who was the PS to the current Education Minister Ehsanul Haq Milan during the 2001-06 tenure and is a long-time confidant. They argue that this has led to the DG's office and the Minister's office merging into one, creating a single dominance that is affecting the image of the new government.