A fresh controversy has erupted in West Bengal after a video surfaced showing a senior government officer celebrating her birthday with pomp inside her official chamber during work hours. The incident took place on July 14 at the office of the Block Development Officer (BDO) in Haringhata, Nadia district, where BDO Mahasweta Biswas was seen celebrating her birthday for nearly an hour with decorations, music, cake-cutting, and party accessories — all during regular office hours. The office, adorned with balloons and darkened for effect, resembled a banquet hall more than a government facility. As the clock struck noon, Biswas entered the room to the sound of the “Happy Birthday” song, greeted by staff wearing party hats and a table laid with a large birthday cake.
The celebration temporarily brought official work to a halt, while citizens waited outside the office to seek redressal for various grievances. “Rules took a backseat that day,” said a local resident standing outside the office during the event.
The incident comes just days after a similar video went viral from East Burdwan, where Rajneesh Kumar Yadav, the BDO of Burdwan–I block, celebrated a pre-wedding ritual in his office on July 4, drawing criticism on social media. Kalyani Sub-Divisional Officer Dr. Abhijit Samanta told reporters, “This should not happen in a government office. Sometimes these things are done by staff without informing the officer. But if it disrupts public service and creates inconvenience to citizens, it is certainly inappropriate.” However, Biswas defended the celebration, saying, “There’s nothing unusual about it. I don’t see anything wrong. It was a simple gesture by my staff, and perhaps the decorations went a bit overboard because of the affection they have for me.”
The incidents have sparked debate over the appropriateness of holding personal celebrations in government offices, raising questions about official decorum and accountability in public service.
