118 joint secretaries promoted to additional secretary posts

The promotions are approved as interim government nears the end of its tenure

The interim government has promoted 118 civil servants holding the rank of joint secretary to additional secretary in a sweeping move two weeks before the parliamentary elections.

On Tuesday night, the Ministry of Public Administration announced that until new responsibilities are assigned, the promoted officials will serve as special officers in their ministries.

Reports of a wider promotion drive for over 200 officials in additional secretary and joint secretary ranks had surfaced earlier.

Sources indicated that several officers who manage key roles -- including ministers’ and state ministers’ personal staff and deputy commissioners -- were reportedly excluded from the list.

A senior official at the ministry told bdnews24.com, “Several officers from the 20th batch were promoted to joint secretary on Oct 29, 2021.

“Around 256 from that batch were eligible but left out, along with approximately 70 others from the left-out, economic, and other batches. Their promotions had been long overdue.”

Of the 344 officers of the 24th batch, 196 were promoted in March last year.

The remaining 180 officers were also awaiting elevation.

“Preparations are complete for promoting over 200 officials once the government issues the order,” the official added.

Former secretary and former rector of the Bangladesh Institute of Administration and Management AKM Abdul Awal Majumdar, told bdnews24.com: “This is routine work. The timing has no connection to elections. But promoting officers without vacant posts is administratively questionable and should ideally be stopped.”

There are 418 sanctioned posts for additional secretaries, but the Government Employee Management System shows only 285 officials currently in service.

With the latest promotions, the gap has narrowed significantly.