Ad-hoc Committee of Bangladesh Scouts leadership sparks debate

Fresh controversy has erupted within Bangladesh Scouts over the repeated reliance on ad-hoc committees instead of electing leadership through regular councils.

On 11 September, the President’s Office issued a gazette authorising the convener and member secretary of the current ad-hoc committee to act respectively as the president and chief national commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts.

The development follows a news report published on 28 August, which revealed that Bangladesh Scouts had been functioning with an expired committee, repeatedly extending ad-hoc mandates in what critics described as a “permanent power strategy.”

The report highlighted concerns that the lack of regular councils had stalled leadership development and undermined transparency and accountability.

In the gazette, the President’s Office also urged the formation of a regular committee—a call seen as validation of longstanding protests against the ad-hoc arrangement.

However, critics noted that Member Secretary Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho had already been enjoying the full privileges of chief national commissioner without official order, in violation of the rules.

Commissioner (Narayanganj) Fazlul Haque Montu said, “The 11 September gazette proves that those of us protesting were correct. It shows that from 30 October 2024 to 10 September 2025, all protocols enjoyed and documents signed by the member secretary as chief national commissioner were illegal and irregular.”

According to the Scouts constitution, ad-hoc committees are meant for emergencies and limited periods only.

Senior leaders warn that extending such arrangements threatens the democratic spirit of the voluntary movement.

Grassroots members allege that ad-hoc committees are being used by a few individuals to monopolize administrative power and financial benefits, raising fears of irregularities in training and project implementation.

Former national deputy commissioner Jamal Hossain stressed, “There is no alternative to convening a regular council to elect legitimate leadership. Continued reliance on ad-hoc committees risks turning Scouts into an undemocratic administrative structure.”

Meanwhile, widespread dissent has erupted among members, particularly on social media, after Snigdho was officially given the responsibility of chief national commissioner.

On the Facebook page Scouts Network BD, member Murtuza Shams Jim wrote, “The destruction of Bangladesh Scouts has officially begun. With respect to Mir Snigdho Bhai, is he truly qualified to be chief national commissioner? This post must be achieved through council elections after serving as national commissioner and deputy national commissioner. This is a betrayal to thousands of Scouts.”

Adding to the controversy, the gazette contained a date error—listing 11 September as “27 Shrabon” instead of “27 Bhadra.”

Former deputy commissioner Jamal Hossain said this reflected the rushed nature of the order.

Although the gazette emphasised the urgency of forming a regular committee, there are still no signs of a national council being convened, even as the current ad-hoc committee’s tenure is set to expire on 30 September.