The prime minister’s adviser on establishment ministry and administrative affairs, HT Imam, on Thursday hinted that the Anti-Corruption Commission was looking into allegations of irregularities against many officials, including a number of secretaries, who were made officers on special duty immediately after the Awami League-led government assumed office.

‘There are allegations against many officials who were made officers on special duty…The authorities might have sent their names to the ACC for investigation. You will see the results very soon,’ Imam told reporters while exchanging views on administrative affairs at the establishment ministry. He said dishonest officials would face departmental proceedings. Asked whether any honest and efficient officials had been deprived of promotion on political consideration, the adviser, confided that political considerations did usually work to some extent in the top administration since the government had some ‘grey areas’.

Imam, a career bureaucrat-turned politician, said different types of considerations did work in the cases of promotions and postings in the top bureaucracy, including joint secretary, additional secretary and secretary, where competition was very tough. The government was also considering appointment of professionals or experts to some posts in the administration on contractual basis to ensure better service delivery to the public, according to the adviser.

The adviser said that some competent officials might have been deprived of promotion, but not on political consideration. ‘We have asked all concerned to file applications by November for review of the promotions…We will consider each and every case so that honest and efficient officers are not deprived of promotion.’ Imam, also a former cabinet secretary, said that one’s loyalty to the country, merit and honesty would be considered for any promotion in bureaucracy. Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office, Molla Waheeduzzaman and establishment secretary Iqbal Mahmood were present at the meeting.

The Awami League-led government on September 7 promoted a total of 494 officials, mostly from the administration cadre to the levels of deputy secretary, joint secretary and additional secretary in excess of the approved vacant positions in the organogram and made them OSDs. About 350 officials, including 11 secretaries, 58 additional secretaries, 95 joint secretaries and 87 deputy secretaries, are idling the time away in the establishment ministry as officers on special duty, according to an official record. Many of the senior officials, dumped as officers on special duty, fear they might lose their jobs on political consideration.

Imam said a total of 3,091 officials, including 81 secretaries, 259 additional secretaries, 739 joint secretaries and 2,012 deputy secretaries, were made OSDs during the tenure of the BNP-led alliance government between 2001 and 2006. He, however, could not give the number of officers made OSDs in the nine months of the incumbent government. Actions would be taken against those who had been involved in corruption and irregularities, the adviser said and assured all that the present government would not force anyone into retirement on political consideration. ‘Many officers were forced to retire by the BNP-led alliance government. But we want to come out of such practices.’

-New Age