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

Fasih Uddin Mahtab, special correspondent of Bangladesh Pratidin has been elected as the president of Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF). UNB Special Correspondent Masudul Haque has been elected general secretary for the second consecutive term. Saiful Alam, chairman of the election management committee and editor of The Daily Jugantor, announced the results of the election held at the Jatiya Press Club on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the voting began at 10:00 am and continued till 4:00 pm. Also Read: BSRF concerned over DSA case against its member, Jugantor journalist Lavlu Fasih was elected president of the organization with 88 votes. His nearest rival is The Daily Alor Thikana’s Siddiqur Rahman got 30 votes. Motahar Hossain, advisory editor of Bhorer Akash, got 27 votes for the same post. MA Jalil Munna of The Daily Ittefaq won the vice-president's post unopposed. Masudul Haque has been elected as the general secretary with 75 votes. His nearest rival Md Akhtar Hossain of Bhorer Dak got 44 votes. Masudur Rahman got 21 votes and Anisur Rahman Tapan got  six votes for the post of general secretary. Also Read: Role of digital transactions in Islamic financial management highlighted at BSRF discussion Mehedi Azad Masum, special correspondent of Amar Barta, was elected as joint general secretary with 86 votes. His nearest rival Mainul Hossain Pinnu of Mohona Television got 55 votes. Tawhidul Islam of Amader Somoy won the post of organizing secretary with 82 votes. His nearest rival Samakal's Md Bahram Khan got 35 votes. BTV's Md Shafiullah Shopon won the post of finance secretary, Dhaka Post's Shahadat Hossain Rakib office secretary and Bijon Kumar Das of DBC won the post of publicity and publication secretary unopposed. Faruk Alam of Alokito Bangladesh has been elected as training and research secretary with 69 votes. His nearest rival Habibur Rahman of The Daily Inqilab got 63 votes. Also Read: Tapan, Masud elected to lead new BSRF committee As executive members, Jharna Roy of Sarabangla.net got 81 votes, Asad Al Mahmud of RisingBD got 65 votes, Ubaidullah Badal of Ajker Newspaper got 64 votes, Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury of Jugantor got 62 votes, Mahmud Akash of Janakantha got 59 votes, Md Mahbubur Rahman of My TV got 59 votes. Rakib Hasan got 54 votes, Mohsinul Karim Lebu of Daily Observer got 40 votes and Ainul Hossain of Ajker Patrika got 39 votes. Out of 152 voters of BSRF, 146 voted in this election. Tapan Biswas, special correspondent of Daily Janakantha and president of BSRF, and Kashem Humayun, managing editor of Dainik Samachar, served as members of the Election Commission while Masud Rana of Jago News assisted.    

The ‘BSRF-Walton Sports Festival-2022’ will kick off Monday. Mesbah Uddin, secretary to youth and sports ministry, is expected to inaugurate the festival around 9.30am, Tapon Biswas, president of the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporter's Forum disclosed this at a press conference at the media center in secretariat on Sunday. Read more: Jatiya Press Club launched 10-day sports festival on Monday A total of seven events will held at the festival while members of the BSRF will participate in six events and another event is for non-member journalists. The events include chess, single and dual carom, card, table tennis, ludu for members and non-members.

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.

It is up to the prime minister to decide whether AK Abdul Momen will remain the foreign minister or not, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said today (September 7, 2022). The minister made the remark while speaking at a programme organised by Bangladesh Secretariat Reporter’s Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat in Dhaka. The foreign minister is also “a human being and he can be unwell”, Quader added. Read: Lawyer moves SC seeking Momen's disqualification “I have no authority to say whether he will remain a minister or not… He said certain things a few days ago that were a slip of the tongue. The jurisdiction (to decide whether Momen will retain his post) belongs to the Prime Minister,” he said. Besides, the foreign minister does not always have to accompany the prime minister during every state visit, said Quader. “Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited here, was (the India) foreign minister with him?” he asked. Read:Momen not in PM’s entourage in India, cited “illness” as reason: Official BSRF general secretary Masudul Haque presided over the dialogue chaired by its president Tapan Biswas. On Monday, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen did not accompany Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her India visit citing “illness”. At the invitation of Indian PM Narendra Modi, Bangladesh PM Hasina is on a state visit to New Delhi from September 5-8. Read 2 tubes of Bangabandhu Tunnel likely to open this Oct, Nov: Quader Hasina, now in New Delhi, is visiting India after three years.

The inauguration of Bangabandhu Tunnel, under Karnaphuli river, will be done in two segments and open to traffic in October and November this year, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said today (September 7, 2022). “As it (the tunnel) has two tubes, the first tube will be inaugurated in October and the other in November. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate both tubes of the Bangabandhu tunnel,” he said. The minister revealed this information while speaking at a programme, organised by Bangladesh Secretariat Reporter’s Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat in Dhaka. Read: Chinese firm CCCC tipped for toll collection, maintenance of Bangabandhu Tunnel Besides, construction work of Kalna Bridge will be finished this month (September) and the PM will inaugurate it any time in October, he said. Talking about Dhaka Metro Rail project, the minister said 94% work of the metro rail – from Uttara to Agargaon point – has been completed, which will be inaugurated this December. Metro rail from Uttara to Motijheel point is expected to be inaugurated in December, next year. He also said, 52% of construction work of the Elevated Expressway has been finished and it is going on in full swing. Read Light at the end of Karnaphuli tunnel BSRF general secretary Masudul Haque presided over the dialogue chaired by its president Tapan Biswas.

A discussion on digital transactions in shariah-based financial management in the country was held in the capital Monday. The programme, arranged by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) with support from mobile financial services Nagad, focused on the role and advancement of digital transactions in Islamic financial management. State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan said: "For the last three years, Nagad Islamic has been providing various shariah-based transaction services, allowing the people to conduct financial transactions digitally following the Islamic way of life." READ: Tapan, Masud elected to lead new BSRF committee Mohammad Aminul Haque, executive director of Nagad and a member of Nagad Islamic Shariah Board, said: "Nagad today has 60 million subscribers in just three years. Even at the marginal level, we know that there is a high demand for shariah-compliant transactions among customers." Nagad Islamic's Shariah Supervisory Board Chairman Professor HM Shahidul Islam said: "The service of Nagad Islamic is not only for the marginal population but also for all the people. I would like to reassure everyone that all the services of this platform are recognised by the shariah board." Md Anisuzzaman Sikder, director of Imam Training Academy at Islamic Foundation of Bangladesh, Tapan Biswas, president of BSRF, and Masudul Haque, general secretary of the forum, were also present at the programme.

The fifth-generation (5G) technology for broadband cellular network will be launched in Bangladesh on a trial basis this year, said Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar. The minister revealed the information at 'BSRF Dialogue' organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Media Centre of the Secretariat on Wednesday. “All preparations are complete. You’ll be happy to know that state-owned telecom operator Teletalk will launch the fifth-generation (5G) technology on trial run,” Mostafa Jabbar said, adding that the government will arrange an auction for 5G spectrum for other operators in 2022. Jabbar said Teletalk has already prepared five sites. “We’ll expand it in 2022 and a spectrum auction will be held in the first quarter of 2022. Hopefully, all operators will be able to develop 5G technology from 2022.” Read: 5G to be rolled out through Teletalk by December: Jabbar

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