Never met Tarique Rahman, says Info Secretary sent on early retirement

Md Mokbul Hossain, who was sent on early retirement yesterday from the post of Secretary to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, today said that he has never met BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman.

“I have never compromised my morality and I’m not prepared for this situation,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat today, reports UNB.

He came up with the remarks a day after he was sent on early retirement. A gazette notification was issued yesterday in this regard.

Replying to a question regarding his visit to London, earlier this year, Mokbul said, “We went there (London) in March as a team. Why are you raising this question now? Ashiqunnabi was in charge of press duties and if you (journalists) ask him, it would be clear.”

He also said, “If it is proven that I was in contact with BNP, please put me on the dock. It is impossible for a person who holds Bangabandhu’s ideals close to his heart, to have any connection with BNP.”

“I have no idea why I have been sent on early retirement but the government has the right to do it.”

Mokbul further said, “As a journalist you can investigate it. I have no involvement with any anti-government activities and if there is any, you (journalists) can publish it. I have no objections.”

Asked whether he has developed any distance with the information minister, Mokbul said that there will be a lot of talk and it will be better to not rely on those words alone. “We worked together and I respect him,” he said.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said, “I have seen the gazette notification yesterday but I have no idea about it. Public Administration Ministry can explain this.”

Hasan was talking to reporters after a views-exchange meeting with television artists, directors and producers at his office.

“Such incidents have occurred before and the government can send any secretary on compulsory retirement and the Public Administration Ministry can explain it properly,” Hasan said.

According to the notification issued on Sunday, Mokbul has been sent on retirement from government service in the “public interest in accordance with Section 45 of the Government Employment Act, 2018”.

Mokbul joined as the secretary of the Information Ministry on May 31, 2021. Before joining as the Secretary to the Information Ministry, he was a registrar at the Directorate of Joint Capital Companies and Firms. He also served as additional secretary of the Jute and Textile Ministry.

He joined Bangladesh Civil Service as a 10th batch officer of the BCS (Administration) cadre in 1991.