Lobbying stalls appointment to public administration secretary’s post vacant for over two weeks

Several political parties are lobbying for their preferred officer, delaying the selection process

Ministry of Public Administration has been without a secretary since Sept 21, with the appointment stalled amid intense lobbying by several political parties for their preferred officers, according to multiple officials familiar with the process.

The post fell vacant after a sudden government order removed Senior Secretary Md Mokhlesur Rahman, who had been appointed on a two-year contract following the political change on Aug 5, 2024.

He has since been reassigned as a member of the Planning Commission.

A BNP-leaning faction in the civil service had accused him of “favouritism and corruption” before his removal.

In the interim, Additional Secretary Abu Shaheen Md Asaduzzaman of the ministry’s career planning and training wing is handling routine duties of the secretary.

Officials say the government is caught in a tug-of-war: naming a candidate backed by one camp risks a backlash from others, prolonging the vacancy.

A recently retired senior secretary told bdnews24.com the authorities are moving carefully to avoid repeating “hurried appointments” that previously had to be reversed.

“This time they want someone competent and acceptable to all,” the former official said, adding that both BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami representatives have advised the Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on potential names.

“Jamaat has several candidates in consideration, but I believe the chief advisor will ultimately decide on his own judgement,” he added.

In another development, the committee that oversees senior bureaucratic postings and transfers met at the finance ministry on Monday.

An officer present outside the meeting said the appointment of a new public administration secretary could be among the decisions taken there.