The Bangladesh Administrative Service Association (BASA) has sharply split into two factions over the formation of a new committee, signalling an unprecedented level of internal discord. The rift became public on Monday when both camps issued separate press releases outlining their respective positions.
Current president Nazrul Islam, alongside the newly claimed president Kaniz Mowla and secretary Babul Miah, each made independent statements asserting their legitimacy.
In a release signed by Nazrul Islam, it was stated:
“A meeting of the Association’s Central Executive Committee was held last Sunday at the Association’s main office. Matters concerning members’ interests were discussed; no decision regarding the formation of a new committee was made.”
Nazrul Islam currently serves as the Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, adding weight to his statement.
Contrastingly, the group asserting the new leadership claims that, in accordance with an emergency BASA meeting, a nine-member committee for the 2026–27 term has been formally constituted. However, they have yet to publicly disclose the full list of members.
A major factor behind the division appears to be the Ministry of Public Administration’s recent transfer process. On 20 January, eight Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) were transferred, only for the orders to be revoked two days later. Questions have arisen about the role of the BASA president in the cancellation, fuelling further suspicions and heightening factional tensions.
The newly claimed committee comprises several high-profile officials:
| Position | Name | Current Posting |
|---|---|---|
| President | Kaniz Mowla | Secretary, National Parliament Secretariat |
| Secretary | Babul Miah | Additional Secretary, Planning Commission |
| Vice President | Firoz Sarkar | Secretary, Ministry of Food |
| Vice President | Sharaf Uddin Ahmad Chowdhury | Divisional Commissioner, Dhaka; Former General Secretary |
Among the transferred UNOs, Masudur Rahman of Kalmakanda Upazila has been notably associated with land encroachments and mobile courts’ controversies. Such incidents have prompted multiple administrative reshuffles, intensifying divisions among officials, particularly between those aligned with BNP and Jamaat factions.
Repeated attempts to reach both the current and new committee leaders by phone went unanswered, leaving BASA in a state of prolonged internal tension. Analysts suggest that unless a mediated resolution is reached, the administrative friction within the association may persist for an extended period, potentially affecting broader civil service operations.