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Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives ministry adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has issued a public apology for his father obtaining a contractor’s licence while he is serving in a ministerial advisory role.

Asif Mahmud, also adviser of Youth and Sports ministry, addressed the issue through a post on his verified Facebook page at around 11:30am on Thursday stating that he was sorry for his father’s actions.

‘My father may not have understood the implications of the conflict of interest. Therefore, I am apologising on his behalf,’ he stated.

Asif explained that on Wednesday at around 9:00pm a journalist contacted him to inquire about a contractor’s licence issued in his father’s name. After speaking with his father, Sajib confirmed about the licence.

‘After talking to my father, I learned that he had indeed obtained a licence issued by the office of the district executive engineer. I confirmed this to the journalist, who then made a post and a news report followed. As the issue has sparked discussions and criticisms, I felt it necessary to offer an explanation,’ he stated.

He also said, ‘A local contractor advised my father, the head teacher of Akubpur Yakub Ali Bhuiyan Public High School, to use his identity to obtain a licence in a bid to obtain contracts easily.’

‘My father, acting on that suggestion, received a contractor’s licence from the district executive engineer’s office. Technically, any citizen can obtain a licence for business purposes. However, as I am currently serving in a responsible position at the relevant ministry, my father engaging in such a business clearly creates a conflict of interest,’ he wrote.

‘Once this was explained to my father, the licence was cancelled today upon his request,’ he mentioned adding that no application for any work was submitted using the licence.