The officers of four batches of Bangladesh Civil Service (admin cadre) have expressed dissatisfaction as they have yet to get promotions, even after a decision was taken in this regard.
Although a meeting of the Superior Selection Board led by Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan had finalised a list of qualified officers for promotion, the Public Administration Ministry has yet to implement the decision taken by the SSB four months back.
According to the ministry, of the officials and officers selected for promotion, the 18th, 19th and 20th batch BCS cadre officers had already been considered for promotion in the SSB’s meeting. Around 200 senior assistant secretaries of three batches were enlisted to get promoted to deputy secretary.
After finalising the list, the Public Administration Ministry’s Senior Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder was made principal secretary to the prime minister. Education Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury was made new secretary to the Public Administration Ministry and was later promoted to senior secretary.
As a result, the initiative to promote the officials of the three batches was stuck. In the meantime, the 21st batch of officers has also become eligible for promotion.
Despite having previous preparations, the ministry did not make any move to promote the officers to deputy secretary.
Seeking anonymity, senior assistant secretaries working at the Secretariat, including the Public Administration Ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune that most of the junior bureaucrats are getting frustrated as the ministry is delaying in executing the decision to promote them to deputy secretary.
An officer of the 21st batch working in the Public Administration secretary’s office said they are losing interest in working harder and better due to the dilemma in promoting them to deputy secretary, despite their being qualified. It will hamper the normal process of promotions which may also interrupt the promotions of their juniors.
Public Administration Ministry’s Senior Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, however, recently told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are considering the issue of promoting the officers to deputy secretary. It will be given in time. I am trying to learn everything from the ministry in this regard.”
“I must see the list again before placing in before the prime minister. A new batch (21st batch) may also be included in the list as it is also eligible for promotion,” he added.
Kamal Chowdhury said most of the officials of the batches are now working in field level administration such as district or upazila levels. It may create a huge vacancy if they are immediately withdrawn after promotion.
We are replacing the officials by transferring junior officers in the field level administrations, as this will not create any vacuum. It will be completed soon. The promotions will be made after ensuring that it will not create any vacuum in the field administration,” he added.
