Govt revamps BCS edu cadre transfer system

The government has introduced a new policy to simplify and accelerate the transfer and posting process of BCS General Education Cadre officials, replacing the previous centralised system with a committee-based mechanism.

Under the BCS (General Education Cadre) Officials Transfer and Posting Policy, 2026, education cadre officials will submit transfer applications to separate committees according to their ranks and workplaces, and the committees will be responsible for reviewing and disposing of the requests.

The new policy, published on the website of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) under the Ministry of Education on Monday, aims to make the transfer process faster and more accessible.

Previously, the ministry held sole authority over the transfer and posting of education cadre officials. Under the new arrangement, the responsibility has been distributed among three committees.

According to the policy, the committees will consider the rank of officials, their workplaces and other relevant factors before issuing transfer and posting orders.

The Regional Secondary and Higher Education Committee will handle transfers of lecturers and assistant professors of government colleges.

The committee will be headed by the concerned regional director of DSHE and include the college inspector of the respective education board, the additional deputy commissioner (Education) and the assistant director (College) of the concerned region.

The committee will review applications from lecturers and assistant professors and issue transfer orders.
For associate professors of government colleges, a separate committee headed by the DSHE director general will review applications.

The committee will include the college inspector of the Dhaka Education Board and a deputy secretary (College 2/1) from the Ministry of Education as members, while the assistant director (College) of DSHE will serve as the member-secretary.

This committee will deal with associate professor transfers, excluding those working in Dhaka City area or departmental-agency positions.

A high-level committee led by the DSHE secretary will handle transfers and postings of associate professors, professors, officials serving in directorates, departments and agencies, as well as college principals and vice-principals.

The committee will include the additional secretary (College) and joint secretary (College-1) as members, while a deputy secretary (College-1/2) will serve as the member-secretary.

The new policy states that newly appointed lecturers cannot apply for transfer before completing two years of service.

Other teachers and officials will also not be eligible to seek transfer before completing two years at their current workplace.

However, applications may be considered before the completion of the period in special circumstances involving serious physical, mental or family-related issues, subject to valid justification.

The policy also allows either spouse, when both husband and wife are employed, to seek transfer to the workplace of their spouse or a nearby educational institution.

Officials applying for transfer to a preferred location one year before going on pre-retirement leave will receive priority, depending on vacancy availability.

While reviewing applications, authorities will consider personal and family circumstances, professional difficulties, serious illnesses affecting the applicant or family members, and the distance between the workplace and the applicant’s home district.

Vacant positions in colleges located in upazilas and remote areas will receive priority for placement.
The policy introduces several conditions to ensure transparency in the transfer process.

No application for transfer or new posting will be considered unless the applicant’s Personal Data Sheet (PDS) is updated.

Incomplete applications, as well as applications from officials facing departmental cases or pending allegations, will not be accepted.

The policy also makes Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) for three consecutive years mandatory for education cadre officials seeking transfer or posting.

There are currently around 16,000 officials in the BCS General Education Cadre.

With the introduction of the new policy, education cadre officials will no longer need to approach the ministry directly for transfers as they did previously.

However, stakeholders have stressed the importance of maintaining transparency and accountability in implementing the new committee-based system.