Dhaka: The government has mandated the compulsory retirement of 32 former deputy commissioners (DCs) who served as returning officers during the disputed 2018 parliamentary elections under the Awami League regime. The Ministry of Public Administration formalized this action through a gazette notification issued on Monday.

According to United News of Bangladesh, the notification stated that these officials, previously designated as officers on special duty (OSDs) at the joint secretary level, have been retired under Section 45 of the Government Service Act, 2018, citing public interest as the rationale. Having completed 25 years of service, the retired officials will receive their retirement benefits as per the existing regulations.

The list of those retired includes former DCs from various districts, such as Md Majedur Rahman Khan from Chandpur, Md Abul Fazal Mir from Cumilla, and Md Aslam Hossain from Kushtia, among others. The decision follows their previous designation as OSDs in February of the prior ye
ar, where they continued their roles as joint secretaries across different ministries and departments.

The 11th parliamentary election, conducted on December 30, 2018, saw the Awami League-led alliance achieving a substantial majority. However, the election process faced significant criticism and allegations, including accusations of irregularities, ballot stuffing, and vote rigging both before and during the polling period.

An enquiry commission, established by the interim government on June 26, 2025, investigated the national elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024. The commission’s findings indicated that these elections were manipulated at the highest levels of state authority, with various administrative bodies, police, Election Commission, and intelligence agencies allegedly involved in executing the orchestration.

The National Election Investigation Commission presented its findings to the then Chief Adviser, Prof Muhammad Yunus, on January 12 this year. The report highlighted that in the 2018 elections,
a significant portion of ballots were stamped overnight in 80 percent of voting centers to ensure an Awami League victory. The report further revealed that there was a competitive dishonesty within the administration to guarantee the party’s win, resulting in voter turnout figures exceeding 100 percent in certain centers. Additionally, the commission noted that during these elections, the control over the electoral process shifted from the Election Commission to the administration.