Officials of 25 cadres reject quota in deputy secretary promotions

Terming the proposed quota in deputy secretary promotions ‘anti-people’, the Inter-Cadre Discrimination Elimination Council has vowed not to accept it. 

It is ‘ridiculous and illogical’ to propose 50 per cent of deputy secretary posts to admin officials and the remaining 50 per cent to 25 other cadres during promotions, it said at a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Saturday.

The Council, which comprises officials from 25 cadres (excluding the admin cadre), demanded that the proposal be revised and that 100 per cent of promotions be made open to all cadres. 

Council Coordinator Shawkat Hossain presented the keynote at the press conference, while another coordinator, Muhammad Mofizur Rahman, addressed reporters’ questions. 

Earlier, on Friday, the Public Administration Commission submitted its report to the Chief Adviser to the Interim Government, recommending various reforms, including those related to the deputy secretary posts.

Hossain stated at the conference that officials from the 25 cadres are being suspended en masse for expressing their opinions on social media. 

So far, 14 officials have been suspended, and departmental actions are underway against a few others, he added. 

Hossain alleged that while there are similar allegations against admin cadre officials, the Public Administration Ministry has not taken any action against them. 

He warned that the Council would launch a tougher series of programmes if “unjust” departmental action orders are not withdrawn. 

Public Works Cadre official Jamilur Rahman, Health Cadre official Mohammad Neyamat Hossain, and Agriculture Cadre official Md Mominul Haq, among others, were present.