The government on Sunday appointed Md Ehsanul Haque as the new senior secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration.
Before his new assignment, he had served as the senior secretary at the Road Transport and Highways Division on contract.
The public administration ministry issued a gazette notification on Sunday morning regarding the appointment.
After formally assuming office at the ministry on Sunday afternoon, Ehsanul Hoque pledged to ensure that the field administration officers would carry out their duties with utmost neutrality in the upcoming national elections.
Asked whether managing the field administration during the national elections would be challenging, he told journalists, 鈥極ur chief adviser has clearly instructed that the elections must be fair.鈥�
He said, 鈥楧uring the election period, we will work under the authority of the Election Commission. I believe that those currently working in the field-level administration will carry out their responsibilities with utmost neutrality. It is my responsibility to ensure that.鈥�
Ehsanul said, 鈥楪iven the opportunity, I firmly believe that we can deliver truly impartial elections. That opportunity must be ensured by all of you. With your support, I am confident that my officials will perform their duties with complete impartiality.鈥�
鈥楳aintaining the law and order during the elections is not a major issue. If the people demand impartial elections, it is certainly possible. We want to ensure that officials on election duty would remain above all forms of controversy,鈥� he added.
Clarifying what kind of protection is needed, he said, 鈥楶rotection means they must be allowed to work independently. If any official fails to conduct their election duties impartially, we will take immediate action. Any official found to have political affiliations will be removed from election duties.鈥�
Ehsanul also said, 鈥業 have never worked under political directives, and I never will in the future.鈥�
Referring to a directive from the chief adviser, he said, 鈥楶residing officers will be empowered. If they fail to exercise their authority, they will be held accountable. That is the message we have received. In case of any disturbance, the polling centre will be shut down.鈥�
Earlier, the former senior secretary of the public administration ministry, Md Mokhlesur Rahman, was transferred to the Planning Commission as a member on September 21.
After the ouster of the Awami League government amid a student-led mass uprising, Ehsanul Haque was appointed as a secretary on two-year contract on August 17, 2024.
He was then posted to the Road Transport and Highways Division and was promoted to senior secretary on August 18 -- in the same month.
Ehsanul Haque, a 1982-batch BCS Administration Cadre officer, had retired as an additional secretary before being reappointed on contract.
He had begun his career in 1983 as a magistrate at the Noakhali deputy commissioner鈥檚 office.
During the BNP government鈥檚 tenure from 2001 to 2006, he served as deputy secretary of the Public Security Division, deputy commissioner of Jhalakathi, and director general at the Prime Minister鈥檚 Office.
During the 2007鈥�08 army-backed caretaker government, he also served as additional secretary at the Chief Adviser鈥檚 Office.
