TDS Desk:

Several officers convicted in departmental cases for involvement in irregularities and corruption have been promoted to deputy secretary under the deprived category, according to a review of the recent promotion list from senior assistant secretary, which prompted concern among public administration officials.

After the fall of the autocratic Sheikh Hasina’s government, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus took charge and, on 13 August, promoted 117 officials who had previously been denied promotion to the post of deputy secretary. On 18 August, an additional 201 officials who had been similarly denied were promoted to the post of joint secretary, including 45 individuals who had already been promoted to deputy secretary just five days earlier. On 20 August, the interim government further promoted another 22 officials to the post of joint secretary.

Among the 340 officials promoted in these three rounds, at least 40 have been accused of irregularities, corruption, and misconduct.

For example, Sekendar Hayat, a BCS 13th batch officer promoted to deputy secretary, was found guilty of embezzling money through fake vouchers during his tenure as Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) in Nalchiti, Jhalkathi. As a result, he was sentenced to a three-year suspension of his annual salary increment in a departmental case.

Similarly, Akbar Ali, another promoted officer, sold trees worth Tk20 lakh for just Tk58,000 while serving as UNO in Pirganj, Thakurgaon. He received a two-year promotion suspension as punishment in his departmental case.

Abdur Rauf Talukder, a promoted BCS 21st batch officer, was lightly sentenced after a departmental investigation proved charges of misappropriation of funds and information concealment when he was assistant commissioner in Madaripur. Talukder, currently the chief executive officer of Gaibandha District Council, has claimed that the charges were fabricated to harass him.

AHM Asif Bin Iqbal, a BCS 22nd batch officer promoted to deputy secretary, was accused of taking a bribe from a stone trader while serving as UNO in Companiganj, Sylhet. His annual salary increment was withheld for two years after the charges were proven in a departmental case.

Additionally, there are allegations of misconduct against several officials of the BCS 24th, 25th, and 27th batches who have been promoted to deputy secretary. These allegations were substantiated in departmental investigations, resulting in light sentences.

An additional secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that those convicted in departmental cases are now claiming that the charges against them were the result of harassment. However, during the investigation hearings, they failed to provide satisfactory explanations to the committee, leading to their convictions. Now, under special circumstances, they are seeking promotions, citing past deprivation.

In a related development, the government recalled the district commissioners of 25 districts last Wednesday night, with plans to withdraw most of the deputy commissioners appointed during the previous government.

On Tuesday, more than a hundred deputy secretaries appealed to Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain, urging him not to appoint officials who were sentenced in departmental cases and who have been promoted to deputy secretary under claims of deprivation.