Promotion row raises vetting questions

 The government’s first major round of administrative promotions has come under scrutiny after several controversial names appeared on the list of 179 Deputy Secretaries promoted to the rank of Joint Secretary, prompting questions over the integrity of the vetting process and its potential impact on public confidence in the administration.

The promotion list, issued by the Ministry of Public Administration through two separate notifications on 9 July, has drawn criticism following reports that it included a retired official, an officer under temporary suspension, and individuals previously linked to disciplinary or corruption-related allegations.

The controversy has fuelled debate within administrative circles over whether adequate scrutiny was exercised before the promotions were approved.

Public administration experts argue that the incident has raised concerns about transparency, institutional oversight and the effectiveness of existing promotion mechanisms.

They say an inquiry should be conducted to determine how the discrepancies occurred, identify those responsible and recommend corrective measures.

Among those promoted is Sadekur Rahman, former Regional Executive Officer of Zone-5 under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), whose name appears at number 67 on the list.

He had previously been attached to the Ministry of Public Administration after a surprise inspection by the Prime Minister found shortcomings in the removal of sacrificial waste in the capital following the last Eid-ul-Azha.

He was subsequently placed under temporary suspension and faced departmental proceedings over allegations of misconduct. However, he was promoted before those proceedings were concluded.

The list also includes former Bogura Deputy Commissioner Saiful Islam, whose administrative conduct and alleged political partisanship during the previous Awami League administration had earlier attracted criticism.

His inclusion has generated debate both within the civil service and on social media.

Another name on the list is Dulal Chandra Sutradhar, currently serving as Deputy Project Director of the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway project.

Ranked 25th on the promotion list, he was previously named in connection with a 2018 case involving the alleged misappropriation of approximately Tk13 crore in land acquisition compensation in Kishoreganj.

In a statement recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the then Land Acquisition Officer, Setaful Islam, alleged that the misappropriated funds had been shared among several officials, including Sutradhar.

However, no final court verdict or conclusive administrative decision has been reached regarding the allegations against him, and the matter remains subject to separate legal proceedings.

According to official sources, the promotions followed the BNP government’s assumption of office after the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

While priority was given to officers from the 25th BCS (Administration) cadre, the list also included officials from several other batches who had reportedly experienced long delays in career advancement.

Administrative promotions are reviewed by the Superior Selection Board (SSB), chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.

The board assesses annual performance reports, seniority, professional records, disciplinary proceedings and retirement-related information before making recommendations. Following government approval, the Ministry of Public Administration issues the final promotion notifications.

Questions have nevertheless arisen over how a retired official was included despite these multiple stages of scrutiny.

Md Mainul Haque Bhuiyan, a Deputy Secretary in the Information and Communication Technology Division, retired on 30 June. Yet his name appeared at number 53 on the Joint Secretary promotion list published on 9 July, surprising many within the administration.

A former secretary, speaking on condition of anonymity, said such irregularities risk undermining public confidence in the government’s administrative processes.

He argued that the existing promotion system should rely less on intelligence reports, lobbying by batch representatives and conventional promotion practices, and instead adopt greater automation and evidence-based verification.

According to the former official, a modern digital system should enable decision-makers to instantly verify an officer’s retirement status, disciplinary record and any pending allegations before promotions are finalised.

He added that a comprehensive assessment of each officer’s career — including achievements, shortcomings and professional performance — would help prevent similar discrepancies in the future.