Parliamentary panel wants removal of postal DG

The parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology on Wednesday sought immediate removal of Sudhangshu Shekhar Bhadra -- the director general of the Directorate of Posts.

The committee lambasted the director general for appearing before the prime minister after being diagnosed positive with Covid-19.

The 7th meeting of the parliamentary panel also expressed disappointment over the corruption allegations brought against Sudhangshu Shekhar Bhadra.  

The DG made the headlines in August as he met the prime minister at Ganabhaban despite testing positive for Covid-19.

Two Supreme Court lawyers subsequently served a legal notice on the authorities concerned requesting them to suspend Sudhangshu for seeing the PM with the virus infection.  

Besides, news broke out about the DG over allegations of irregularities and corruption in government procurement. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is currently looking into the matter.

On September 1, the anti-corruption watchdog questioned Sudhangshu. ACC sources said that there were numerous allegations against the top public official while the charges include taking bills for around 8,000 laptops and other equipment without supplying them to entrepreneurs, withdrawing extra bills, irregularities in setting up e-centres, and money laundering.

The standing committee at the meeting strongly recommended his immediate removal from office because of the irregularities.

Benazir Ahmed, a member of the committee, presided over the meeting while Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar attended the meeting upon the special invitation of the president.

Among others, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Fahmi Golondaz Babel, Ahmed Firoz Kabir, Md Nurul Amin, Monira Sultana, Zakia Parvin Khanam and Aparajita Haque, took part in the meeting.