Summary:
- A government-formed committee has recommended the promotion of 754 retired officials who faced career discrimination during the Awami League’s tenure from 2009 to August 2024.
- The committee, led by former Finance Secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan, reviewed 1,540 applications and submitted its report to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus within a 90-day deadline.
- The recommendations include promoting 119 officials to Secretary, 41 to Grade-1 Secretary status, and 528 to Additional Secretary positions.
- This initiative aims to address systemic inequities in civil service promotions and restore fairness for affected officials.
The government of Bangladesh has taken a significant step toward addressing long-standing grievances within its civil service by recommending promotions for 754 officials who were previously denied advancement. This development comes after years of alleged political discrimination during the Awami League’s tenure, which spanned from January 2009 to August 2024.
On Tuesday, December 10, a report was submitted to the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, detailing recommendations for the promotion of these officials. Among the proposed advancements are 119 individuals to the rank of Secretary, 41 to Secretary-equivalent Grade-1 positions, and 528 to Additional Secretary posts. These officials had reportedly faced career stagnation and other forms of professional marginalization due to political affiliations or unfavorable intelligence reports during the previous administration.
The initiative follows the formation of a five-member committee led by former Finance Secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan under the Ministry of Public Administration. The committee was tasked with identifying ways to compensate and rehabilitate officials who suffered discrimination or career setbacks over the past 15 years. After three months of deliberation, the committee presented its findings, recommending measures to restore fairness and meritocracy in public administration.
This move is part of broader efforts by the Interim Government, formed in August 2024, to address systemic issues in governance, including corruption and abuse of power. The previous administration faced widespread criticism for its alleged use of civil service promotions as a tool for political patronage. Many non-administration cadre officers were reportedly sidelined or forced into early retirement, while others were left as Officers on Special Duty (OSD) without meaningful roles.
The discriminatory practices in civil service promotions have been a contentious issue in Bangladesh for years. Under a quota system that heavily favored administration cadre officers, many qualified officials from other cadres were denied opportunities for advancement. This system was legally challenged and declared unconstitutional by Bangladesh’s High Court in 2003 and upheld by the Supreme Court. However, successive governments failed to fully implement these rulings, perpetuating disparities within the civil service.
The recent recommendations aim to rectify these injustices and restore confidence in a merit-based promotion system. Observers note that this initiative could mark a turning point in Bangladesh’s efforts to create an inclusive and equitable public administration framework. However, challenges remain as the government seeks to balance meritocracy with political realities in a deeply divided civil service.
This development also reflects broader societal demands for transparency and accountability in governance. The anti-discrimination movement, which gained momentum earlier this year with student-led protests against job quotas, played a pivotal role in highlighting these issues. The protests ultimately led to the fall of the Awami League government and the establishment of the Interim Government.
As Bangladesh moves forward, addressing these systemic inequities will be crucial for fostering trust in public institutions and ensuring effective governance. The promotion of these 754 officials is seen as a step in that direction, signaling a commitment to fairness and justice in public service.
Source: Daily Inqilab
