ABM Abdus Sattar, President of the BCS (Administration) Welfare Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Limited, has called for the removal of Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury from the position of Head of the Public Administration Reform Commission within the next 48 hours on Wednesday.
He made this statement on Wednesday, during a protest meeting held at the Biam Auditorium in the capital, attended by both former and current officers of the Administration cadre. He also called for the establishment of the Bangladesh Administrative Service.
He said: "Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury has benefited as a government employee. We demand his removal within 48 hours. Otherwise, the Administration knows how to proceed with his removal."
Retired Administration cadre officer Zakir Hossain Kamal echoed the same demand at the meeting. Other officials present expressed their support for the demands, with some stating that there is no need for the report of this reform commission. Additionally, some called for the restructuring of the commission.
Addressing Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, Zakir Hossain, an officer from the 1986 batch, said: "You didn’t earn a promotion through exams. Since you have undertaken this task, you should resign immediately from the reform commission."
Zakir Hossain also called for the reform commission to be restructured, involving senior officers from the Administration cadre.
He added: "We must stand united against those working as obstacles in establishing a Bangladesh free from discrimination."
Meanwhile, Dr Mohammad Anwar Ullah, President of the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association, said that no surgery would be allowed on the Administration cadre.
The president added: "We stand united, and we will not allow any surgery or quota imposition on the Administration cadre. Any unwarranted recommendations will face strong actions. Any attempt to bring in outsiders will be resisted. Everyone must be given equal opportunity in promotions and postings."
The protest meeting was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association and the BCS (Administration) Welfare Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Limited. Several hundred current and former officers from the Administration cadre participated in the meeting. Deputy Commissioners (DCs) from various districts and Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) also joined the meeting online. This was the first such event of its kind.
The speakers at the meeting reiterated their demand for the establishment of the Bangladesh Administrative Service to create a new type of administrative structure. They also called for 100% promotions to the position of Deputy Secretary from the Administration cadre.
Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Land, ASM Saleh, said: "The report of this commission will be of no use. It will end up in the trash." He advised everyone to remain united.
The event was conducted by Mahbub Hossain, Member of the Planning Commission, and was presided over by ABM Abdus Sattar.
Earlier, a joint protest meeting was organized by retired and current officers of the BCS (Administration) cadre in response to the Public Administration Reform Commission's decision to reduce the quota for the Administration cadre in promotions to the position of Deputy Secretary.
On December 17, the head of the Public Administration Reform Commission informed journalists that they would recommend keeping a 50% quota for the Administration cadre and 50% for other cadres in the promotions to the positions of Deputy Secretary and Joint Secretary through examinations. Following this, officers from the Administration cadre began protesting.
Under the current regulations, 75% of the promotions to the position of Deputy Secretary are given to the Administration cadre, with 25% allotted to officers from other cadres.
