Questioning bureaucrats’ role over transfer of the official of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, who ordered the shutdown of an Aarong outlet after a drive, the High Court asked if the prime minister has to interven il all matters then what do the secretaries do.
The bench of Justice Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader made the observation on Tuesday (Jun 18) while hearing a petition on expired medicines at drug stores.
At one point of the hearing, the court described the transfer of consumer rights directorate Deputy Director Manjur Mohammad Shahriar as “shameful”.
“The prime minister had to intervene to revoke the transfer of the official. Why are the secretaries there, if the premier has to intervene in all matters? Have they [secretaries] been bought off [by large businesses]?” it said.
The court further said that no actions were taken against the officials behind the transfer before adding “These incidents will demoralise honest public servants.”
On Jun 3, the public administration ministry issued a order transferring Shahriar the Khulna zone of Roads and Highways Department as the estate and law officer by Jun 13.
Deputy Director Shahriar had ordered the shutdown of Aarong’s Uttara outlet on the same day following a drive.
The outlet was allowed to reopen after the authorities admitted the mistake of overpricing their products. He had conducted drives on other companies before.
The news of Shahriar’s transfer caused a stir on Internet and on social media after he shared it on his Facebook page, following which the order was revoked the next day.
He had also livestreamed his drive against fake and adulterated goods during Ramadan on Facebook.