No contractual appointment will be allowed in the civil administration from now as the government has already taken decision to encourage fresh recruitment and retirement process, officials said.
However, the government may allow contracts for technical experts and most senior officers for any particular sector for a certain period. It would not be more than six months to one year, the officials of the public administration ministry said.
The decision was taken as per the desire of the prime minister who is against contractual appointments in the administration after extending retirement age of public servants to 59 from 57 years.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith has recently sent letters to the state minister for public administration, cabinet secretary, principal secretary to the prime minister, public administration secretary and finance secretary requesting them not to allow contractual appointment in the administration, citing its inconveniences.
According to the ministry officials, at least 160 people, including some secretaries of the civil administration, are now in service on contractual basis. Most of the appointments were given based on political consideration.
State Minister for Public Administration Ismat Ara Sadique told the Dhaka Tribune that the finance minister issued letters as per the decision of the prime minister. The ministry has already taken steps against contractual appointments as the premier also wants to make the civil bureaucracy more effective.
The government usually gives contractual appointments to get additional services from senior and skilled officers who gained professional competence and expertise. They get contracts for one or two years, she said.
“So, it’s not necessary to give them contracts again for getting extra services. It will create barriers to the promotion of other officers and recruitment process of new officers in the administration. We want fresh blood to get their services,” she added.
The Awami League-led grand alliance government in December, 2011 extended the retirement age of public servants, taking account of increase in average life expectancy of people in the country.
As a result, the retirement process of senior officials was stuck. It began again since December, 2013.
At least 100 senior officials have already started enjoying leave preparatory to retirement. The vacancies of senior officials were filled temporarily with putting them in charge of the offices or posting new officers. Finally, the vacant posts would be filled by promoting them.
Ismat Ara said, “We will be able to promote and recruit some new officers soon as some vacancies have already been created. At least 276,000 out of 1.3m posts lie vacant in the administration.”
“We have already started the recruitment process for filling the vacancies. It would be completed as early as possible,” she added.
The finance minister requested the public administration ministry and others to prepare a guideline on contractual appointment of retired public servants and fix the age limit to be considered for public service. The contractual appointment would remain stopped until the guideline is prepared.