Junior Officers Should Learn from You," Says Law Adviser About Sarwar Alam

Sylhet’s newly appointed District Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Sarwar Alam has been lauded by Professor Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, who expressed that junior officers should take inspiration from him. In a heartfelt post on his verified Facebook page on Friday night (September 5), Professor Nazrul praised Sarwar, stating, “Not only Sylhet but the entire nation loves you for your honesty, courage, and dedication to work.”

In the post, Professor Nazrul recounted an incident from Sarwar’s tenure. As a magistrate with RAB, Sarwar earned nationwide acclaim for his operations, but this angered a powerful corrupt circle. Consequently, his promotion was stalled, and he was transferred to a less significant role in the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare. During the waning days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when workers bound for the Middle East faced delays due to vaccine shortages, they surrounded the ministry in protest. Despite efforts by the minister and secretary to calm them, the workers refused to trust anyone—except Sarwar.

“Finally, Sarwar was called downstairs. The workers calmed down upon seeing him. He informed them when they would receive their vaccines, and his assurance worked like magic. The workers lifted their blockade and left. The minister and secretary breathed a sigh of relief. Sarwar returned to his room and thanked Allah,” Nazrul wrote, noting that both he and Sarwar were moved to tears recalling the incident. Reflecting on his time working with Sarwar as his personal secretary, Nazrul shared, “I first met Sarwar at a discussion table when I had just taken charge of the ministry. In a large conference room, while I enthusiastically outlined plans, most showed little interest—except Sarwar, who actively contributed with enthusiasm. I decided he would be my PS.” Nazrul admitted to frequently scolding Sarwar out of frustration when work lagged, but Sarwar’s dedication, including his excessive care—such as insisting on accompanying him to the airport despite being told not to—left a lasting impression. “I may have scolded him too much, and I apologized a couple of times,” he added. Nazrul noted that government officers often work mechanically, showing little interest in reforms. However, with Sarwar’s unwavering support, significant achievements were made, including digitizing clearance processes for migrant workers, securing multiple-entry visas for workers in Malaysia, expanding job markets in Japan and South Korea, and establishing a migrant lounge. “We achieved about half of what we aimed for. Then came the news of Sarwar’s transfer to Sylhet as DC after the Sadarpathar controversy. My Sylheti friends and acquaintances were overjoyed,” Nazrul wrote. Expressing a lingering regret, Nazrul mentioned that while he faced baseless rumors on social media, similar attempts were made to tarnish Sarwar’s reputation, despite his professionalism and distance from politics. “I couldn’t fully counter these efforts, and that pain will stay with me,” he admitted. Concluding his post, Nazrul wrote, “I miss you, Sarwar. I pray that junior officers learn from you. Not just Sylhet, the entire nation loves you for your honesty, courage, and dedication. This gives us reason to remain hopeful.”