764 officials deprived during Awami League rule who retired will be given rank and financial benefits. A committee formed by the interim government had recommended ‘retirement-based’ promotions for these officials at various levels from deputy secretary to secretary.
Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Md. Mokhles Ur Rahman said this at a press conference on the report of the Dearness Allowance and Deprivation Elimination Committee at the Secretariat on Sunday (December 15).
Referring to the recommendations of the Deprivation Elimination Committee and the government’s policy decision, Mokhles Ur Rahman said, those who do jobs know that there is a minimum process. A directive from the promotion authority will be required in this regard. However, it is positive. There are some rules and regulations of the job. This has to be followed. There is no scope to go beyond it.
Expressing hope that this process will be completed in a short time, the Senior Secretary of Public Administration said, this is not exactly promotion. This is social status and dignity. A government order will be issued with financial benefits and titles. On the basis of this, they will get this money in the economic order. The government agrees in principle. It is a matter of time.
Explaining, he said, placement in the post is one thing and rank is another. This is that a government order will be issued with the status of that post. The AG office will do the calculation. They have scientific rules. This benefit will also be applicable in the case of pension.
Earlier, on December 10, the committee reviewing the applications of retired officials deprived of promotion in public administration submitted their report to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The Ministry of Public Administration had formed a five-member committee on September 16 with former Finance Secretary and former Alternate Executive Director of Bangladesh at the World Bank Zakir Ahmed Khan as the convener. This committee was formed to review the applications of officials who were deprived of various forms of government service during the Awami League period from 2009 to August 4 and to formulate recommendations.
According to the information received from the relevant sources, a total of 1,540 applications were submitted on behalf of the deprived officers, including 19 applications submitted by their family members. Out of these, 13 applications were outside the purview of the committee for various reasons. As a result, the committee scrutinized and selected the remaining 1,527 applications and made recommendations. After scrutinizing and selecting the applications, the committee held 28 meetings and formulated recommendations through analysis, which have been submitted to the Chief Adviser. It is learned that the committee has recommended promotion of 119 people to the post of Secretary, 41 to Grade-1 (salary grade equal to Secretary), 528 to the post of Additional Secretary, 72 to the post of Joint Secretary and four to the post of Deputy Secretary. Since they have retired, it has been recommended that they can be given 'ex-service' promotion. Out of these 764 officers, the committee has recommended promotion of 9 people to four steps, 34 to three steps, 126 to two steps and 595 to one step. The total cost of providing financial benefits to these deprived officers after determining the new rank will be approximately Tk. 50 to Tk. 60 crore.