Saiyed Abdullah Appointed as Prime Minister’s Special Assistant

Md. Saiyed Bin Abdullah, a former student of Dhaka University’s Law Department who brought the ‘Goat Scandal’ to light just before August 5, 2024, has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant (Youth Employment).

The appointment was made through a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Thursday (April 2).

According to the notification, Md. Saiyed Bin Abdullah has been appointed on a contractual basis in Grade-2 to the position of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (Youth Employment Affairs). The appointment will remain effective from the date of joining until the end of the Prime Minister’s term or as long as the Prime Minister wishes (whichever comes earlier). He must resign from any other profession, business, or position in government, semi-government, or private organizations.

The notification further states that other conditions of this appointment will be determined by the contract letter. It was issued in the public interest.

Just before Eid-ul-Azha in 2024, Saiyed Abdullah had posted multiple times on social media highlighting the case of Mushfiqur Rahman Ifat — a young man who booked a goat worth Tk 12 lakh — and his connection with National Board of Revenue (NBR) member Md. Matiur Rahman.

His posts played a key role in exposing the scandal. Later media investigations revealed that Mushfiqur was the son of Matiur Rahman’s second wife. The case led to Matiur Rahman being removed from his position at NBR and from the Board of Directors of Sonali Bank. The court also imposed a travel ban on Matiur Rahman, his wife Laila Kaniz, and son Ahmad Toufiqur Rahman.