Md Mokbul Hossain (secretary) explained

Md Mokbul Hossain is a retired Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Secretary.[1] He was sent into forced retirement before his tenure ended citing public interest.[2]

Early life

Hossain was born in Ballavepur, Kumarkhali Upazila, Kushtia District.[3] He completed his undergraduate in agriculture economics at the Bangladesh Agricultural University.

Career

Hossain joined the 10th batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service in 1991 as an admin cadre.[4] He served as Assistant Commissioner of Land and Upazila Nirbahi Officer. He was the deputy commissioner of Dinajpur District.[5]

Hossain was the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Textiles and Jute.

On 31 May 2021, Hossain was appointed secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. He was previously the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies And Firms. Under him, in 2020, a record number of companies were registered.[6]

Hossain was sent into forced retirement by the Ministry of Public Administration of the government of Bangladesh in October 2022 citing "public interest".[7] [8] There was widespread speculation in the media about his termination.[9] He denied being disloyal to the government and claimed he was a member of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, as a student at Bangladesh Agricultural University. He denied allegations of ties with the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and it's vice-chairman, Tarique Rahman, in London.[10] Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat Lizu of the High Court Division asked the Anti-Corruption Commission if they had taken any action on the corruption allegations against Hossain.[11] Zakia Sultana was appointed to replace him but she was replaced two months later by Humayun Kabir Khandakar.[12]

Personal life

Hossain is married to Israt Jahan Nina. They have two daughters.

Notes and References

  1. News: Info secretary Mokbul sent on retirement . 2023-12-10 . New Age . en.
  2. News: Info Secy Mokbul Hossain retires . 2023-12-10 . Risingbd.com . en.
  3. News: Profile of the Secretary . 2023-12-10 . . en-US.
  4. News: 16 October 2022 . Information Secretary Mokbul Hossain sent on retirement . 2023-12-10 . Kaler Kantho.
  5. News: Karmaker . Kongkon . 2010-05-21 . Dinajpur Shilpakala Academy auditorium opens its doors . 2023-12-10 . The Daily Star . en.
  6. News: Rahman . Md Fazlur . 2020-10-04 . Registration of new firms hits an all-time high . 2023-12-10 . The Daily Star . en.
  7. News: 2022-10-16 . Info secretary Mokbul Hossain sent on retirement . 2023-12-10 . The Business Standard . en.
  8. News: 2022-10-17 . Info secy sent on retirement in 'public interest' . 2023-12-10 . The Daily Star . en.
  9. News: 2022-10-18 . Information secretary speaks about his 'forced' retirement . 2023-12-10 . Prothom Alo . en.
  10. News: 2022-10-17 . No clue why I was sent on retirement: Ex-info secretary . 2023-12-10 . The Daily Star . en.
  11. News: 2022-10-18 . Ex-info secretary Mokbul's "financial scam": HC wants to know ACC action . 2023-12-10 . The Daily Star . en.
  12. News: Top posts reshuffled again . 2023-12-10 . The Asian Age . Bangladesh . en.