Although accounts officers in different ministries and divisions have been enjoying the status of Class-I officer, their career progression has remained stalled as the current civil administration structure does not offer any higher post for them to be promoted to.
As a result, these account officers remain in the same post till the end of their service tenure while officers of other cadre or non-cadre posts are being promoted to the rank of secretary or senior secretary.
Apart from that, even Class-IV employees, such as MLSS, or Class-III employees such as office assistants and others also find the scope of being promoted up to deputy secretary or joint secretary rank despite having maximum Class-VIII or Secondary School Certificate (SSC) qualifications.
Such discrimination had fuelled anger among these accounts officers, who had to pursue a university degree for joining the posts, as they are compelled to work under officers who had previously worked under them and were later promoted from MLSS or office assistant posts.
Social Welfare Ministry’s Accounts Officer Abdul Mannaf, who is also the president of Secretariat Accounts Officers Welfare Association, told the Dhaka Tribune last week that the government can promote them as senior accounts officer by creating new posts or transfer them in any related posts in different ministries or divisions promoting them to the rank of senior assistant secretary or other equivalent posts.
“However, the Ministry of Public Administration has not taken any steps in this regard despite considering our proposal nearly one-and-a-half year ago. The proposal remained stuck in the welfare wing of the ministry. As a result, most of the accounts officers have to retire in the same post,” he added.
Mannaf himself joined the civil service as an accountant in 1990 after completing his honours and masters degree in accounting. Later, he was promoted as accounts officer when the government created the post of “Accounts Officer” with as Class-I status for all 52 ministries and divisions. He has been serving in the same post for the past 18 years.
According to Mannaf, he received a selection grade for four years into his service as an accounts officer. As a result, his basic salary was raised to Grade-7 scale from Grade-9.
However, an assistant secretary is also a Class-I officer and receives a selection grade for four years into the service. An assistant secretary also gets promoted as a senior assistant secretary after serving an additional year. An assistant secretary may get promotion up to joint secretary within his 18 years of his or her service, he claimed.
According to the Ministry of Public Administration, there were 52 account officers, 52 accountants, 52 cashiers and 52 cash assistants in 52 ministries and divisions at present. The promotion of accountants, cashiers and cash assistants are also remained stuck as account officers were not getting a promotion.
State Minister for Public Administration Ismat Ara Sadique told the Dhaka Tribune that the government has taken initiative to create new posts for the administration considering the demand of the ministries or divisions concerned.
A committee has also been formed to recommend the government in this regard.
“We are yet to get their recommendations. The proposal of the officers might be considered as the government wants to ensure a stable administration,” she added.