The National Academy for Educational Management (NAEM) has issued a formal show-cause notice to a lecturer from Dhaka College following allegations of publishing offensive and controversial remarks on social media. The official, identified as Arif Mohammad Farhad, is a member of the BCS (General Education) Cadre and currently serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Accounting at Dhaka College. The disciplinary action was initiated after he reportedly shared content on Facebook that targeted the government, cabinet ministers, secretaries, and other high-ranking civil servants.
The incident came to light during the 207th Foundation Training Course hosted at NAEM, an essential professional development programme for civil service officers. According to official documentation released on the NAEM website on Sunday, 10 May, the contentious social media activity took place on 9 May, while the officer was actively participating in the residential training course.
Allegations of Professional Misconduct
The notification issued by the academy states that the lecturer used his personal Facebook account to share a post containing comments deemed “objectionable, indecent, and controversial.” The administration noted that the nature of these remarks directly challenged the integrity and image of the state. Furthermore, the authorities asserted that such public commentary by a serving officer constitutes a significant breach of the expected standards of conduct, professional neutrality, and administrative decorum.
The official notice highlights several specific violations:
Government Servant (Conduct) Rules, 1979: The lecturer’s actions are viewed as a direct infringement of the relevant provisions governing the behaviour of public officials.
Social Media Guidelines: The content contradicts the circulars and policy guidelines issued by the Cabinet Division regarding the disciplined use of social media platforms by government employees.
Professional Neutrality: By engaging in political or controversial commentary, the officer is seen to have compromised the neutrality required of a member of the civil service.
Institutional Image: The academy expressed concern that such actions create a risk of tarnishing the reputation of the government and the administrative framework.
Disciplinary Requirements and Potential Sanctions
The show-cause notice serves as a preliminary step in the formal departmental proceedings. Arif Mohammad Farhad has been directed to provide a comprehensive written explanation regarding his conduct. The academy has stipulated a strict deadline, requiring the officer to submit his response within three working days.
The directive explicitly mentions that the lecturer must clarify why administrative and departmental measures should not be initiated against him in accordance with existing service rules. Should the accused official fail to provide a satisfactory explanation within the mandated timeframe, the authorities are empowered to proceed with further disciplinary actions. These could include a range of penalties as defined under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, which may impact the officer’s service record, increments, or future promotions.
Context of Social Media Regulation in Bangladesh
This case underscores the government’s heightened vigilance regarding the digital conduct of civil servants. In recent years, the Cabinet Division and the Ministry of Public Administration have issued multiple directives reminding public employees that their online presence must reflect the dignity and impartiality of their office.
Government regulations strictly prohibit state employees from making statements that are derogatory to the state, its institutions, or high-level officials. Policy guidelines also forbid the sharing of any information that could lead to public unrest or spread misinformation. National training institutes like NAEM emphasise these ethical standards throughout their curricula, particularly during foundation courses, where the principles of administrative discipline are reinforced. As the investigation into the lecturer’s conduct progresses, the outcome of this disciplinary inquiry remains contingent upon the legal and factual sufficiency of his upcoming explanation.