Lobbying
Lobbying intensifies as govt prepares for 'Special Cadre' promotions
Government officials seeking promotion to the ranks of deputy, joint and additional secretary have intensified lobbying efforts as the government prepares to initiate the grade upgradation process by the third week of next month.
The promotions will first be granted for the position of joint secretary, followed by deputy and additional secretaries.
The Superior Selection Board (SSB) of the Ministry of Public Administration has already commenced the evaluation of service records and other relevant factors of the officials under consideration.
Joint Secretary Promotions Underway
Officials from the 24th batch have been reviewed for promotion to joint secretary, with a shortlist of 575 candidates prepared.
Of these, more than 200 are expected to be promoted.
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Cabinet Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid, who heads the SSB, has presided over multiple meetings to assess candidates based on their service records, performance in promotion exams, disciplinary history, and corruption allegations.
Following a thorough review, the required number of officials will be promoted.
At the start of this year, the Ministry of Public Administration requested all secretaries to submit lists of senior secretaries eligible for promotion to deputy secretary.
Deputy Secretary Appointments
The 30th batch, consisting of 277 officials who joined in 2012, has been considered for promotion to deputy secretary.
A total of 319 officials from this batch have been deemed fit for the post, with necessary records being analysed for their professional advancement.
Historically, 336 officials joined the administration cadre on 2 July 2005, and 318 of them have received promotions to deputy secretary over the past two decades.
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In addition, 574 officials, including 19 from the now-dissolved economic cadre of the 24th batch, are being considered for promotion from deputy secretary to joint secretary.
Additional Secretary Promotions
The 20th batch has been selected for promotion to additional secretary, with 212 joint secretaries, including those from the administration and other cadres, likely to be elevated.
According to ministry data, the current administration structure includes:
453 additional secretaries against 212 sanctioned posts
862 joint secretaries against 502 sanctioned posts
1,598 deputy secretaries, including supernumerary positions, against 1,420 sanctioned posts
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Besides, deputy secretaries from the 13th to 22nd batches in the remaining 25 cadres, excluding the administration cadre, will also be promoted to joint secretary by mid-February.
Upcoming Promotions for the 25th Batch
Md Obaidur Rahman, Additional Secretary to the Appointment, Promotion and Deputation Wing of the ministry, said, “We are currently working on the promotions of the deputy secretaries from the 25th batch. If everything proceeds as planned, they will receive their promotions by the third week of February. Additionally, some deputy secretaries from the 22nd batch who were previously deprived may also be promoted alongside the 25th batch.”
He confirmed that efforts are being made to facilitate the promotion of officials from the 24th regular batch, ensuring they progress along with their peers.
The forthcoming promotions are expected to streamline administrative efficiency and address longstanding grievances among cadre officials awaiting career advancements.
3 days ago
Eminent citizens ask countrymen to remain aware of anti-Bangladesh lobbying, propaganda
A group of eminent citizens on Thursday issued a joint statement, asking the people of the country to remain alert about any kind of lobbying and propaganda against Bangladesh.
Referring to the Al Jazeera report on British lawyer Toby Cadman who has admitted that he tried to persuade the US and the UK governments to impose sanctions on Bangladesh earlier this month, the joint statement said that conspiracy is going on against the country.
The statement said that such lobbying started a long time ago and not only Toby, but a US firm was also involved in persuading the US government to impose sanctions on Bangladesh.
Read: Toby Cadman, who was Jamaat's legal advisor, tells Al Jazeera he was part of team asking US, UK govts for Rab sanction
“Toby Cadman has been working as a lawyer for Jamaat-e-Islami since 2011. Besides, Jamaat had also hired a US-based lobbyist firm named Cassidy and Associates in exchange for $25 million during the war crimes trial in Bangladesh,” the statement reads.
“By doing these things, Jamaat has been trying to malign the image of Bangladesh in front of the international community, especially the US. We ask everyone to remain alert against these plots,” the statement reads.
Among the 21 signatories to the statement are dramatist Ramendu Majumder, former advisor to the caretaker government Rasheda K Chowdhury, human rights worker Khushi Kabir and Dhaka University teachers MM Akash and Robayet Ferdous.
Cadman admitted to Al Jazeera that his efforts to get the UK to impose sanctions against Bangladesh’s law enforcement officials and expressed disappointment that it did not work out.
“I filed the request for sanctions and whilst I am not in a position to discuss the substance, I can confirm that I discussed the request with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO),” Cadman was quoted as saying, referring to the UK Foreign Office.
Read: BNP spent a lot on lobbying by US firm: Shahriar
Jamaat-e-Islami engaged Toby Cadman as its legal advisor in London in 2011, after the trials of several top Jamaat leaders started – over war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War.
2 years ago