Bandopadhyay retired as West Bengal chief secretary on May 31, 2021 after the Centre ordered him to report to the central government on deputation. The sudden transfer order came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kolkata on May 28 to review the destruction caused by cyclone ‘Yaas’.

Bandopadhyay did not attend the meeting chaired by the Prime Minister during his Bengal visit. Since then, the IAS officer has been appointed special adviser to Banerjee, who was with her when she handed over a report to the PM on the cyclone situation, and left the meeting to assist her.