A total of 3.70 lakh positions out of 19.151 lakh government jobs remain vacant, Public Administration Minister Farhad Hossain said today. The minister revealed this information during a dialogue organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF). Addressing a question about women lagging behind in the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS), the minister noted that out of 58 secretaries under Public Administration, 11 are women. Besides, there are 75 female additional secretaries, 164 female joint secretaries, 394 female deputy secretaries. Additionally, there are 658 senior assistant secretaries, seven female deputy commissioners, 151 female UNOs, and 88 female AC land officers. State Minister for Public Administration showcaused for violating electoral code of conduct “We are making progress in women empowerment, with women constituting 29 percent of government job holders,” he stated. “In the 35th BCS, 27.95% are female governments officials, in 36th BCS, the number of female officials are 26.22%, in 37th BCS, 24.37% are female officials, 26.91% female officials found in 38th BCS, the rate of female officials in 40th is 26.03% and in 41st BCS the number stands at 26.71%,” he said. In the 29th BCS, 46.81% females were appointed as government officials while the rate surpassed to 49.02% in the 42nd BCS, said the minister. The minister said, even after the cancellation of 10 percent women quota, women are getting recruitment as before. There was no disruption here. From the 40th BCS, there is no quota for women, he said, adding that the rate of women in BCS has not decreased. A total of 26-27 percent women were recommended for each BCS, he said. PM Hasina distributes 'Bangabandhu Public Administration Award to 28 officials, 2 departments   Responding to a question about allegations against 351 government officials from grade-1 to grade-9 over the past ten years, Farhad Hossain said that 41 received severe punishment and 140 received light punishment. In total, 181 officials were punished, while 170 were discharged. Regarding concerns about not maintaining policy in promotions, the minister assured, “Promotions and postings are conducted following proper policies. We have a well-ordered system. It’s important to consider various factors such as officers studying abroad under government scholarships, assignments in embassies abroad, and health issues of some officers. We take all these factors into account. BSRF president Fasih Uddin Mahtab and its general secretary Masudul Haque administered the programme. Over 3.55 lakh posts vacant in public administration: State Minister

Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Monday said that declaring to oppose the election is tantamount to spoiling the election environment. “Someone can boycott the election but no one has the right to oppose it. If someone declares to oppose the election it is tantamount to spoiling the election environment,” he said while talking to reporters after a meeting with the newly elected Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) committee at the Secretariat. Referring to the remark of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleging that the government is trying to repress the opposition party by controlling the internet, Hasan said “When BNP was in power, there were 50 lakh internet users in the country but now 13 crore people are using the internet as the current government made it universal.” Political crime surges in the country: Info Minister Replying to a question about the election decision of BNP, the minister said “We want BNP to join the election with its full power. At one point they are saying that they will not participate in the election, on the other hand they said they are being refrained from the election. We want the BNP in the election and participate in the election as per the constitution.” Foreign envoys' statement over attack on election candidate is clear violation of Vienna Convention: Information Minister “It is clear in the statement of the BNP secretary general that they want to participate in the election but they can’t do it due to an invisible power,” he said. He also made a request to BNP to take the party to the people of the country after freeing it from invisible grip. BNP’s demand for dissolving Parliament is threat to democracy: Info Minister

The government will start open market sale (OMS) of whole-wheat flour packets across the country from October 1, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said today (September 13, 2022). The process of packaging whole-wheat flour for OMS has already started, he said at the ‘BSRF Dialogue’, organised by Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat. “Packed whole-wheat flour may cost a little more. However, it will be sold at half the price of the flour that is being sold in the market,” he added. Read:OMS will continue till rice market is stable: Food Minister “We will allocate one tonne of whole-wheat flour per day to dealers in districts and city corporations for sale from October 1,” said the minister. Besides, the shipping of imported wheat has also started, he added.

A survey is underway to assess the feasibility of building a tunnel alongside Bangabandhu Bridge as an alternative passage under the Jamuna River, said State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury. Talking to reporters at the secretariat on Wednesday during an event organized by Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF), he said an alternative passage along the Bangabandhu Bridge is needed. “A feasibility study is underway. If its results are found to be positive, then the country's second tunnel after the Karnaphuli one will be built there,” he said. Read Karnaphuli Tunnel Project makes "breakthrough" amid Covid-19 About the encroached lands along the river banks, he said, “We want to give some time to the industrial establishments on the river banks as they’ve made huge investments there. Government lands have been demarcated while notices have been issued to the encroachers in this regard.” To secure 10,000 kilometers of waterways, illegal establishments have been removed from nearby rivers, the state minister said, adding that 3,000 kilometers of waterways have already been secured.

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain on Tuesday said the Rules of Business does not allow addressing the government officials as sir or madam. “There is no directive to address the government officials as sir or madam as it is against the Rules of Business. The Father of the Nation’s directive to government officials had been to become the service provider of people,” he said.  Farhad said this while speaking at a dialogue organised by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF)  held at the Secretariat. “Your (government officials) attitude is most important to the people. If you get angry or snub someone then it will be considered as corruption. Misbehaviour is tantamount to corruption. We’ll not allow it as your (government officials) behaviour is the behaviour of the government,” said Farhad. Also read: Take preparations for future challenges: Farhad Hossain

Tapan Biswas of Dainik Janakantha has been elected as president, while Masudul Haque of UNB as general secretary of the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF). The executive committee election for the 2021-22 term was held on Sunday at the National Press Club from 10 am to 3 pm, and the results were declared in the evening. Motahar Hossain was elected vice-chairman of the committee for the 2021-22 term. Of the 17 posts of the executive committee, voting was held for all except the training and research secretary post, for which Tauhidul Islam was elected unopposed. Besides Tapan and Masud, Mehedi Azad Masum was elected assistant general secretary, Akhtar Hossain organising secretary, Md Shafiullah Sumon finance secretary, Moskayet Mashreq office secretary and Bahram Khan publicity and publication secretary. The elected executive members of the committee are:  Ismail Hossain Russell, MA Jalil Munna (Munna Raihan), Mainul Hossain Pinnu, Shahjahan Mollah, Hanif Mahmud Shah, Shahadat Hossain (Rakib), Md Belal Hossain and Rubayet Hasan. Information Minister Hasan Mahmud congratulated all the newly elected members of the committee.