Assam Forest Department on Tuesday surprised everyone with its fresh list of transfers of 12 officials as the state is bound for elections.

On Tuesday, Secretary of Assam Forest Department, M. Baruah issued a notification on the transfer of 12 officials of the rank of Divisional Forest Officer.

One of the officials, Atikur Rahman, who was transferred on Tuesday, is scheduled to retire on February 28.

Another officer, Motiur Rahman, who was suspended for corruption charges in Dhemaji, was reinstated and promoted from the post of ACF to DFO in Dhemaji.

Rajib Kr Das, Deputy Conservator of Forest, who was absconding and was wanted in a corruption case registered by BIEO, has been transferred and posted as DFO in Doomdooma.

According to the transfer order, Atiur Rahman, DFO, Doomdooma has been transferred and posted as Deputy Conservator of Forest, attached to CCF, Social Forestry in Guwahati.

Pulak Ch. Chaudhury, DFO, Nagaon South Division in Hojai has been transferred and posted as Deputy Conservator of Forest, attached to CF(R&E), Basistha.

Gaunadeep Das, Deputy Conservator of Forest, attached to CF(R&E), Basistha has been transferred and posted as DFO in Hojai.

Jayashree Naiding, DFO, Sivasagar, has been transferred and posted as DFO, Sonitpur.

Kadam Suhas Tarachand, DFO, Sonitpur East Division in Biswanath Chariali, has been transferred and posted as DFO, Sivasagar.

AFS officer KK Deori, serving at PCCF(WL), Assam, has been transferred and posted as DFO, Sivasagar (Social Forestry Division).

Ranjit Konwar, DFO, Sonitpur West Division in Tezpur has been transferred and posted as DFO, Kamrup West Division.

Ranjan Goswami, DFO, Kamrup West Division, has been transferred and posted as DFO (Publicity) in the office of PCCF(WL), Assam.

Sofiqur Rahman, DFO, Dhemaji, has been transferred and posted as DFO, Sonitpur West Division in Tezpur.

Northeast Now reported on February 13 that the Environment and Forest Department, had prepared a notification (Memo No. FRE.79/2011/83-M), and it was scheduled to be signed on January 20 by M. Baruah (Sen), secretary of the department.

The notification of the transfer of 12 Assam Forest Department officials of the rank of Divisional Forest Officers (DFO) was seen in circulation on the social media platforms before it was signed by M. Baruah (Sen).

Also read: Assam Forest Department turns ‘trading house’ for transfer of officials

It was reported that friends, family members and colleagues even called up the Forest officials and congratulated them for the transfers.

Some of the officials reportedly had ‘campaigned’ with powerful people in the corridors of power in Dispur for ‘prime postings’.

The unsigned notification was a clear reflection of the reports of ‘inducement’ behind the preparation of the list of transfer of DFO-rank officials across Assam.

Left totally red-faced, the Environment and Forest Department withdrew the unsigned notification (Memo No. FRE.79/2011/83-M, dated January 20) because it was a cause of ‘big shame’ during the run-up to the election.

It was reported that a section of Forest Department officials were back in the phase of ‘negotiations’ with ‘powerful people’ in the corridors of power in Dispur to ensure transfer to ‘lucrative’ positions.

And, the fresh notification issued on Tuesday (February 23, 2021) has proved Northeast Now’s apprehension to be true with officials having record of “corruption” being rewarded.