Despite changes in political tides, old habits remain unchanged for Afsana Arefin, the Family Planning Officer of Banaripara Upazila in Barishal.
Known as a close associate of the Awami League, she has not been transferred for the past four years — violating the government rule that officials should be transferred after serving three years in the same workplace.
After August 5, although she attempted to alter her public image, her irregular office attendance continues. Still arriving and leaving at her convenience, Afsana built an invisible power structure during the Awami League’s rule through syndicate politics, ensuring repeated postings in Banaripara.
During on-site visits on Sunday and Monday, she was not found at her office. On Tuesday, she briefly entered the office but left soon after. She worked on Wednesday, and on Thursday she arrived but then left for the Barishal District Family Planning Office.
Investigation revealed several notable facts: during the Awami League regime, after allegedly securing her job through political lobbying, Afsana Arefin personally built a hardboard portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in her office — even though official portraits of Bangabandhu and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were already present, seemingly to signal her loyalty to the party.
Under the AL government, she wielded such power that even her colleagues felt helpless. She continued her job with complete disregard for rules — once even posting a picture of herself holding a liquor bottle on Facebook from Dhaka, which she later deleted.
Since the AL government’s fall on August 5, she’s been strategically avoiding office duties while leaking sensitive information about her superiors. Afsana is rumored to possess "supernatural" persuasion skills — allegedly offering tailored gifts to manipulate officials. Despite regulations requiring her to reside near the workplace, she continues to live in her family home in Babuganj Upazila.
When contacted, Afsana Arefin claimed that a certain group is spreading false and biased information against her.
Barishal District Family Planning Deputy Director Mehbub Morshed said complaints will be investigated and appropriate actions taken.
Divisional Family Planning Director Abul Kalam Azad said that if formal complaints are submitted with evidence, action will be taken. However, transfers are handled by the Dhaka office.
Sources revealed that Afsana Arefin was appointed Assistant Family Planning Officer in Hizla Upazila in 2013 through political lobbying during the Awami League regime. In 2014, she managed a transfer to Banaripara. In 2016, she went to the Dhaka Divisional Family Planning Office on deputation. At the beginning of 2018, she returned to Banaripara in the same position.
Later that year, she briefly worked in Muladi Upazila under the same designation and subsequently moved to the Dhaka District Family Planning Office. In early 2019, she again returned to Muladi.
After being promoted to Upazila Family Planning Officer in 2021, she was posted to Banaripara — where she continues to serve, violating government transfer policies.
There are also allegations of financial misconduct. During her additional duties in Muladi Upazila in 2023 and 2024, she allegedly misappropriated nearly Tk 500,000.
She reportedly extorted between Tk 1,000 and Tk 20,000 from staff by holding back essential services such as pension files, GPF, lump grants, recreational leave, and issuing show-cause notices to control and intimidate subordinates.
