The 'Helicopter' Lands at the Secretariat: A.N.M. Ehsanul Hoque Milon Sworn In as Education Minister

In a move that has sent waves of excitement through the nation’s academic circles, A.N.M. Ehsanul Hoque Milon officially took his oath yesterday, February 17, 2026, as the Minister of Education. The man who once redefined discipline in the examination halls of Bangladesh has returned to lead the ministry he once served as a deputy.

For many, his return to the ministry is not just a political appointment, but the return of a legend who once waged a literal war against academic corruption.

Known popularly as the "Yama of Cheating" or "Helicopter Milon," A.N.M. Ehsanul Hoque Milon became a household name during his tenure as State Minister for Education (2001–2006). He was the man who single-handedly dismantled the "copy-culture" that had paralyzed the nation's exam halls.

He was famous for his hands-on approach, surprising examination centers by landing in a helicopter, often funded from his own pocket, and personally raiding bushes and pockets to seize hidden cheat sheets. Under his watch, the era of question leaks and open cheating was buried under a wave of strict reforms.

Milon’s journey to this seat is a saga of brilliance and resilience. A product of Dhaka University’s Chemistry department, he later earned an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology.

Despite a successful career as a lecturer in the United States and holding American citizenship, Milon chose to return to his roots in Kachua, Chandpur. He renounced his US citizenship to enter Bangladeshi politics in 1996, quickly becoming the "clean image" leader of the BNP.

However, his commitment to the country came at a heavy price. Following the political shift in 2008, Milon faced a barrage of over a hundred legal cases, including surreal charges of theft and harassment, which his supporters labeled as pure political vendetta. He endured 449 days in prison and years of exile before finally returning to the heart of the nation’s governance.

Yesterday, as he was sworn in, the message was clear: the man who once cleaned the halls of education is back to finish the job. From the streets of Chandpur to the classrooms of Dhaka, the nation now watches as A.N.M. Ehsanul Hoque Milon prepares to lead a new revolution in the country’s education system.