TDS Desk:

Bangladesh Administrative Officers’ Unity Council has demanded an upgradation from grade 13 and 14 to grade 10 of the national pay scale for the officials in different government offices, directorates and agencies.

The council demanded an announcement from Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in this regard in a press conference held at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) in the capital on Saturday (1 February).

The council’s secretary general said it would form a human chain in front of the National Press Club on Thursday (6 February).

During the press conference, Belal said they would march towards the residence of the chief adviser from Thursday’s human chain.

He said they will paralyse the country’s administrative system by abstaining from work.

By demanding an upgrade from the lower grades to the upper grades, the council is asking for various low-tier positions to be changed to the post of administrative officer.

The positions for which the council has demanded an upgradation are: chief assistant, upper division assistant, peon, accountant, cashier, assistant, typist and other similar positions.

Before implementing the National Pay Scale 2015, these positions were termed third-division posts, while grade 10 positions were known as second-division posts.

Mentioning that the council has made the demand for the upgrade time and again since the interim government was formed, Belal further said they have been forced to come to the streets as their request to end discrimination remained unfulfilled.

In 1995, the chief assistant and higher division assistant positions in various ministries at the Secretariat were changed to administrative officer positions, speakers at the press conference said.

Later, many other government agencies, including the University Grants Commission and the Supreme Court, saw changes from the lower tier posts at grade 13 and 14 to grade 10, speakers added.

Abu Nasir Khan, president of the council, said, “The government officials in grades 13 and 14 have been facing discrimination for the past 29 years. Although the present government was formed to end discrimination, they are not doing anything much.”

According to data from the Ministry of Public Administration, there are 32,452 posts in grade 13, 27,414 posts in grade 14, and 74,931 in grade 10.

However, more people are working in these grades, with the highest number of people employed in grade 13.

At the press conference, speakers said many employees at the bottom grades have reached the ceiling for their salaries and are not getting any promotions and increments.

Meanwhile, those government employees in grade 10 are receiving promotions as usual, speakers further said.

“Although proposals were sent from 31 directorates to the public administration ministry, the ministry sent them back without any consideration. However, other government officials working in the same or lower positions, including primary school teachers and sub-inspectors of police, have seen growth in their positions and compensation,” Nasir said.

This is increasing discrimination between government officials, Nasir further said.