Staff Correspondent

Embattled Bangladesh Railway (BR) Director General Md. Afzal Hossain has allegedly  initiated a major reshuffle in top administrative posts to consolidate his influence, despite facing multiple probes by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and mounting calls for his removal.

The Ministry of Railways issued a notification recently enforcing immediate transfers and postings for several high-tier officials, sparking widespread discontent among senior railway officers who allege the move is aimed at rewarding loyalists and bypassing seniority.

According to the official order (Memo No: 54.00.0000.040.12.0019.22.582), signed by Deputy Secretary Kamrul Hasan of the Administration-3 branch, several key operational positions in the Western Zone have been reassigned. 

Farid Ahmed, General Manager (West), BR, Rajshahi, has been removed from his post and attached to the Office of the Director General. Sources indicate he is slated for a lucrative reassignment soon.

Ahammad Hossain Masum, Chief Engineer (West), Rajshahi, has been promoted to General Manager (West) in a current charge capacity—one of the most critical administrative posts in the zone.

Md. Ahsan Zabir, Additional Chief Engineer (Track/West) and Additional Project Director for the Madhukhali-Magura Railway Line Construction Project, has been appointed as Chief Engineer (West) (current charge), while retaining his additional project responsibilities.

Insiders within Bangladesh Railway claim that the newly posted officials are known confidants of DG Afzal Hossain. Senior officials allege the timing of the reshuffle is deliberate, intended to entrench administrative control as the ministry and graft watchdogs step up scrutiny against him.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior BR official said, the  Director General is facing multiple ACC inquiries, audit objections, and demands for his resignation. Executing such key transfers at this juncture is a calculated effort to maintain absolute grip over the department through a chosen syndicate."

DG Afzal Hossain is currently under the scanner over a series of financial irregularities, including procurement scams, illegal appointments under the dependents' quota (poshya quota), slow project execution, and corruption during the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project.

Moreover,  following a complaint by the human rights group Society for Enforcement of Basic Rights (SEBR), the Ministry of Railways initiated a high-level inquiry under instructions from the Ministry of Public Administration.

WhatsApp messages was sent for his comments regarding the allegations and the recent reshuffle, he  did not respond.