DTCA chief who likened PM’s slogan to Hadith attached to ministry

The government has attached Mohammad Mashiur Rahman, executive director (secretary) of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), to the Ministry of Public Administration following controversy over his description of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's political slogan as a “Hadith”.

The Senior Appointment-1 Wing of the Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification to this effect on Tuesday.

Mashiur Rahman was appointed by the BNP government on a contractual basis with the rank and status of a secretary.

He drew widespread attention after comparing the prime minister's political slogan to a Hadith, a saying or tradition attributed to Prophet Muhammad.

Speaking at the inauguration of a pilot bus service under the “One Route, One Company” initiative on six roads in Dhaka on November 1, Mashiur said: “We will work, we will build the country, Bangladesh comes first — this is a Hadith, a Hadith. It is an eternal saying. If religious scholars had said it, it would have become a Hadith.”

A video of his remarks subsequently went viral on social media, triggering widespread discussion and criticism.

His attachment to the Ministry of Public Administration comes amid the controversy surrounding the remarks.