Principal secretary dropped from key public administration committee

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has been named chair of the reconstituted Committee on Public Administration Affairs

The government has reconstituted its Committee on Public Administration Affairs, removing the principal secretary to the chief adviser from the body.

M Siraz Uddin Miah had been included in the seven-strong committee under an Aug 25 notice, but a new Cabinet Division order issued on Sunday confirms he has been left out. The body will now function with six members.

As per the latest order, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has been named chair of the committee. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, will serve as secretary.

Other members include Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, Information Adviser Md Mahfuj Alam, the cabinet secretary, and the secretary and senior secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration.

The public administration ministry will provide secretarial support to the committee.

According to the Cabinet Division, the committee’s purview covers appointments, transfers and disciplinary actions for administrative officers, including deputy commissioners, district administrators and others.

The previous notice had also tasked the body with advising the government on matters relating to officials of joint secretary rank and above, and recommending appointments and transfers of senior field administration officers.

The latest order notes that instructions issued in earlier notices on Jan 8, Mar 20 and Aug 25 will otherwise remain in effect.