Desk Report:
Mohammad Moshiur Rahman, Executive Director of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), has been removed from his position following a controversy sparked by his comparison of a political slogan—attributed by him to “Prime Minister Tareque Rahman”—to a Hadith (a saying or tradition of the Prophet). He has now been placed under the Ministry of Public Administration.
The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification regarding this on Tuesday night (November 3), which was made public on Wednesday. Although Moshiur Rahman—who served on a contractual basis with the rank of Secretary—has been removed from his role as Executive Director of the DTCA, the notification did not specify the reason for this decision.
On November 1, while speaking at an inauguration event for a pilot bus service—part of the “One Route, One Company” initiative—on Manik Mia Avenue in the capital, Moshiur Rahman referred to a slogan attributed to “Prime Minister Tareque Rahman.” He remarked that if he were to label it a Hadith, some might assume he was merely flattering the “Prime Minister” in hopes of securing a future appointment; however, he insisted that it was, in fact, an “eternal truth.”
In his speech, he cited the slogans: “We before ‘I’, the country before ‘us'” and “We shall work, we shall build the nation; Bangladesh comes first.” He argued that there is no room to disagree with such sentiments, which emphasize patriotism and collective interest.
At one point, Moshiur Rahman suggested that the statement was not recognized as a Hadith simply because “Prime Minister Tareque Rahman” does not wear a beard or a topi (cap). He added that had the same words been spoken by an alim (Islamic scholar) or a huzur (religious figure), they would have been accepted as a Hadith.
A video of these remarks, made during the event, subsequently circulated on social media, triggering widespread criticism and discussion.
