Bangladesh News

A group of government officials deprived of promotion and posting during last five years staged a sit-in inside and in front of the establishment secretary’s office yesterday to press their demand for immediate promotion.

The group led by Abu Alam Shaheed, former personal secretary to then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, urged the ministry to be unbiased in promoting and posting officials.

“We are worried that a section of officials loyal to the immediate past government are preparing to help rig the general election and thus make the administration controversial,” an official told Secretary AFM Soaliman Chowdhury.

The demonstrating officials alleged that the establishment ministry is still promoting and giving postings to officials selected by Hawa Bhaban.

“Information is being leaked to Hawa Bhaban soon after any move is made at the establishment ministry. We want to see removal of the officials who represent Hawa Bhaban,” Shafiq Alam Mehedi (82-regular batch), a deputy secretary, complained to the establishment secretary.

“Despite fulfilling all criteria for a promotion, more than one thousand officials were deprived of their due promotions during the four-party alliance government’s tenure,” he added.

Some 50 officials of different ministries also demanded formation a new ‘fit list committee’, as the committee still includes members loyal to the previous government.

They demanded suspension of all postings and transfers until the deprived officials are promoted. They urged the secretary to enforce the government service rule and consider seniority and quality while making the list of deputy commissioners.

Replying to their demands, Secretary AFM Soaliman Chowdhury said his ministry already sent a file to the Cabinet Division seeking dates from the Superior Selection Board (SSB), a body that approves government officials’ promotions.

The Cabinet Division informed him that the SSB would sit Sunday afternoon to promote qualifying officers.

The secretary said promotion would be considered at all levels of the administration.

About reshuffle in the field administration, the secretary said the advisory committee on administration has already decided to initiate mass transfer of field-level officials for making a congenial atmosphere for the general election.

Alauddin Ahmed, Abul Kalam Azad, Safait Ahmed and Chowdhury Mohammad Babul Alam also spoke at the sit-in.

The agitating officials threatened to launch further programmes if the ministry failed to consider their fair demands immediately.