Staff Reporter :
Promotions for deputy and joint secretaries to the positions of joint secretary and additional secretary could be implemented immediately amid the ongoing major reshuffle, resignations, and forced retirements in the administration and police.
To address the longstanding grievances of officials who have been deprived of promotions due to political reasons over the past 16 years, the interim government has taken this decision.
Sources from the Ministry of Public Administration confirmed that officials from various BCS batches currently serving as deputy secretaries and joint secretaries will be promoted respectively to the positions of joint secretary and additional secretary.
This initiative responds to the aggravation and discontent among BNP-Jamaat affiliated officials who were sidelined during the tenure of the Sheikh Hasina regime.
Over the past 16 years under the Awami League administration, hundreds of officials faced promotion denials due to negative remarks in intelligence reports over their political affiliations.
Many of these officials were left as Officers on Special Duty (OSD) for years or placed in insignificant roles, with some even forced into compulsory retirement.
On the night of August 13, a total of 117 senior assistant secretaries, who had allegedly been deprived of promotions, were elevated to the rank of deputy secretary.
Those previously overlooked for the deputy secretary position will now be promoted to joint secretary, with
similar promotions to the additional secretary role.
Additionally, a memorandum was submitted to the Chief Adviser by deputy secretaries from 25 non-administrative cadres who had similarly been left out of promotions.
According to the memorandum, the Senior Service Pool, responsible for policy formulation in the Secretariat, was intended to be composed of 75% from the administrative cadre and 25% from other cadres as per the ‘Promotion Rules 2002.’
However, disparities have emerged in promotion practices, with 4,899 members in the administrative cadre (9.62%) and 46,023 members in the other 25 cadres (90.38%).
The memorandum also points out that in subsequent promotions, including joint secretary and above, recommendations from the Public Service Commission (PSC) and merit lists have been disregarded, resulting in discriminatory practices.
While administrative cadre officials have their promotions ensured in accordance with their batch, those from other cadres have faced inequitable quotas, leading to significant disparities and dissatisfaction among highly qualified officials.
Following the student-led mass upsurge on August 5, a meeting was held the next day with at least 200 officials who had been denied promotions. They presented their case for seniority and rightful promotions, compiling a list of eligible officials based on their batches and submitting it to the Secretary’s office.
According to the submitted list, which included 244 names, the first batch of promotions has already elevated 117 senior assistant secretaries—who have no pending disciplinary or anti-corruption cases—to the position of deputy secretary.
Among them, four are from the 11th batch, eight from the 13th batch, 21 from the 15th batch, eight from the 17th batch, 22 from the 18th batch, 21 from the 20th batch, 10 from the 21st batch, 12 from the 24th batch, 12 from the 25th batch, 13 from the 27th batch, 10 from the 28th batch, and 22 from the 29th batch.