‘I also have the right to know,’ says Asif Mahmud on Dhaka administrator clique controversy

Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has said he would like to know about appointment of administrators following a controversy that surfaced over “a special clique becoming administrators” in all wards of Dhaka city corporations.

“Before appointing administrators, kindly let me know as well. As I am responsible for the relevant ministry, I, too, have the right to know,” the advisor wrote in a social media post on Wednesday.

The issue emerged on Tuesday night after UK-based journalist Zulkarnain Saer (Sami) shared a Facebook post by Dhaka University student Syed Sameer Faiyaz.

According to youth and sports ministry spokesperson Md Nur Alam, the Facebook account used for the post is run by both the advisor and his admin panel.

Asif also serves as an advisor to this ministry.

Sharing Faiyaz’s post, journalist Saer wrote: “In all 129 wards of Dhaka city, there is an attempt to appoint administrators/commissioners through the collusion of a special clique.

“If people of their choice are placed in each ward without following the proper process, it will create a new wave of instability in the country.”

Faiyaz’s original post contained several screenshots.

He claimed a group identifying themselves as organisers of the National Citizen Party (NCP), formerly part of the National Citizens’ Committee, had been collecting lists of underprivileged residents and requesting their personal information.

According to his post, this group has been telling people that ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the city corporation, with NCP’s cooperation, will provide financial aid to underprivileged voters.

“They said ‘the city corporation will allocate the funds, finance the initiative, and the Citizen Party will implement it’,” it read.

However, NCP’s Joint Chief Coordinator Md Arifur Rahman (Tuhin) dismissed the entire issue as a “media trial” and called it a “conspiracy”.

He said: “Administrator appointments are entirely within the government’s jurisdiction. It is up to them to decide whom to appoint.

“As a party, the NCP is in no way involved in such activities. If anyone can provide proof, we openly challenge them. The NCP does not have time to determine appointments.

“If someone is talking on social media, they can say anything. What someone says on Facebook is not the issue. Let someone come forward with real evidence that the NCP is involved in this.”

When asked whether the party had discussed an investigation into the matter within its forum, he dismissed the idea.

Regarding the hint given in the advisor’s post, the NCP leader said: “Only the advisor can clarify what he’s implying.

“However, I believe it was a satirical post, as the allegations suggest huge financial dealings,” he added.

WHAT WERE THE ALLEGATIONS?

On Facebook, Faiyaz said: “A post to ask the NCP brothers and sisters on the list:

“In my constituency, a committee of [National Citizens’ Committee] was formed last December. I do not know what role they played in July-August or who elected them.

“Now they are also claiming to be organisers of the NCP. They even have a WhatsApp group where they have added many people from the area.”

He continued, “Today, I saw in that group that they are planning to distribute Eid aid to underprivileged voters under the management of the city corporation, with the NCP’s assistance. This seemed suspicious.

“I asked them about NCP’s role—whether it was their own local initiative or just oversight.”

“They told me that the city corporation would allocate the funds and finance the initiative, while the Citizen Party would implement it. This did not make sense to me.

“If the city corporation is allocating the funds, why should a political party implement it? Even if they do, who is controlling this cash flow? Who determines who is underprivileged? I have attached some screenshots.”

Following his post, Faiyaz claimed to have received similar allegations from Mohammadpur.

In another post, he said: “After I made the post, a brother from Mohammadpur messaged me saying the same thing was happening in his constituency.

“I have attached the screenshots. From what I understand, this is the same case in all ward committees under Dhaka North City. What do my fellow brothers and sisters have to say about this?”

Faiyaz could not be reached for further comments.