The government has initiated the long-awaited promotion process for officials to the ranks of deputy secretary and additional secretary, with the move now at the final stage, sources at the Ministry of Public Administration said.
The ministry is expected to issue promotion orders by the last week of July for eligible senior assistant secretaries to become deputy secretaries, followed by the promotion of joint secretaries to additional secretaries next month, they added.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the Superior Selection Board (SSB), chaired by Cabinet Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid, has already held several meetings to assess the service records, discipline, integrity and family background of eligible officers.
A few more meetings are likely before the final list is approved. More than 700 officers are currently being reviewed for promotion by the SSB.
The deputy secretary level promotions are likely to be implemented within this month while promotions to additional secretary are expected in August, said a senior official.
The last SSB meeting was held on July 8.
30th BCS Officers
Officers from the 30th BCS batch, who joined government service on June 3, 2012, became eligible for promotion to deputy secretary on June 3, 2022.
Due to various reasons, including political changes and formation of an interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus in August 2024 the promotions were deferred.
In January this year, the Ministry of Public Administration invited information for promotions.
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Since then, the SSB has reviewed the profiles of 319 officers from the 30th BCS (including 277 from administration cadre) and 223 officers from other cadres who applied through the DS Pool.
Based on evaluations, 250 to 280 officers are likely to be promoted in the first phase.
20th BCS Officers
Meanwhile, officers from the 20th BCS batch are under consideration for promotion to additional secretary.
Although they became eligible in 2019 they were promoted to joint secretary in 2021, making them eligible for further promotion in 2023. Now, after a delay, that promotion appears imminent.
Over 300 officers, including 244 from the administration cadre, are being considered for the higher post.
Sources said 43 officers from the same batch who served as Deputy Commissioners (DCs) under the previous government may not be included in the list.
According to the officials concerned, the number of officials currently holding the rank of additional secretary stands at 370, against 212 approved posts.
Besides, there are 1,034 joint secretaries against 502 sanctioned positions.
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In the case of deputy secretaries, 1,402 officers are serving in 1,420 approved posts (including supernumerary positions), indicating that promotions may not lead to new postings but rather elevation in rank while continuing in existing roles.
As per the promotion rules, officials become eligible for promotion to deputy secretary after five years as senior assistant secretary and at least 10 years of government service.
The 30th BCS batch officers fulfilled those criteria three years ago but their promotions have remained pending until now.