Sylhet Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Sarwar Alam left for Dhaka on Tuesday after the government’s withdrawal order took effect.
He departed from Sylhet Osmani International Airport in the afternoon. Additional District Magistrate Pinki Saha has assumed charge as acting DC since Monday afternoon, as per local media reports.
Before leaving Sylhet, Sarwar Alam posted a farewell message on Facebook, saying: “Goodbye Sylhet. Stay well, people of Sylhet. I am grateful for your love.”
On Sunday, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification withdrawing Sarwar Alam from his post and attaching him to the ministry as a Deputy Secretary.
The order, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Jeti Pru, said it was issued in the public interest and would take immediate effect. No reason was provided for his removal, nor was a successor named.
The decision sparked protests in Sylhet, with people from various walks of life staging demonstrations and sit-ins outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office over the past two days, demanding that the order be revoked.
Administrative and political sources said Sarwar Alam had recently drawn attention over initiatives related to the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shah Paran (RA).
On Monday, authorities counted donations collected from newly installed donation boxes and sealed cauldrons at the shrines, recovering nearly Tk 1.8 million.
