Jhenaidah DC Removed Amid Mounting Controversy

Amid a wave of controversy and administrative scrutiny, the District Commissioner (DC) of Jhenaidah, Abdullah Al Masud, has been officially withdrawn from his post. In his place, Md Noman Hossain, formerly serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Khagrachhari Hill District Council, has been appointed as the new DC of the district. The decision was formalised through a government notification issued on Tuesday, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Md Ismail Hossain of the Field Administration-2 branch under the Ministry of Public Administration.

The administrative reshuffle follows the circulation of a widely discussed audio recording involving Hosne Ara, a recently transferred Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) from Jhenaidah Sadar. The recording, which quickly went viral on social media, contains a series of allegations against the former DC. In the audio, Hosne Ara accuses Abdullah Al Masud of subjecting her to undue reprimand and pressuring her to engage in irregular administrative practices, including the alleged creation of fictitious development projects.

According to her claims, she was abruptly transferred to Tala Upazila in Satkhira just two days before Eid-ul-Fitr after refusing to comply with what she described as unethical directives. The recording further suggests that she was instructed to leave her station immediately despite her infant daughter being critically ill at the time—an order she described as both distressing and unjust.

Following the widespread circulation of the audio clip, authorities took swift action. Hosne Ara was first withdrawn from her posting in Tala and subsequently reassigned as a Senior Assistant Commissioner at the Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner’s Office. The latest decision to remove the DC appears to be part of a broader administrative response to the unfolding situation.

When contacted for comment regarding the allegations, Hosne Ara declined to provide any statement. Meanwhile, Abdullah Al Masud has strongly denied the accusations. He asserted that the audio recording had been manipulated and maintained that he had not engaged in any form of misconduct. He described his removal as a “government decision” and refrained from further elaboration.

It is also notable that on 28 March, prior to his removal, the former DC filed a General Diary (GD) with the local police station, accusing two Facebook profiles and one page of spreading misinformation and defamatory content linked to the audio.

The sequence of events is summarised in the table below:

This episode underscores ongoing challenges within local governance structures, particularly regarding accountability, administrative ethics, and the influence of digital media in shaping public perception. While the full truth behind the allegations remains subject to verification, the government’s intervention reflects a broader commitment to maintaining discipline and integrity within the civil administration.