Discontent and disruptions at the Secretariat: Challenges in civil service

The Bangladesh Secretariat is witnessing significant turmoil and disruptions in its operations, following the fall of the Awami League government. The civil service, particularly within various ministries and departments, has yet to return to normalcy, with reports of instability and a severe lack of momentum in daily activities.

Since the formation of the interim government, numerous officials and employees, who were considered loyal to the previous administration, have been noticeably absent from their posts. This absenteeism, which some describe as an attempt to avoid repercussions, has led to a significant slowdown in the Secretariat's workflow.

Discontent is particularly high among officials who were denied promotions during the Awami League's tenure. These officials, including both cadre and non-cadre members, have been expressing their frustration through protests and rallies inside the Secretariat, a key point installation (KPI) area. In an attempt to quell the unrest, the interim government has initiated a wave of promotions. Over the past two weeks, 340 officials have been promoted from senior assistant secretary to joint secretary positions.

On August 13, 117 officials who had been sidelined during the Awami League's rule were promoted to deputy secretary. This was followed by the promotion of 201 officials to joint secretary on August 18, some of whom had already received promotions earlier in the month. On August 20, 22 more officials were elevated from deputy secretary to joint secretary. However, reports suggest that the promotion process has been marred by chaos, with some officials forcing their way into others' offices and disrupting normal operations.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the integrity of the promotion process. Sources indicate that officials with ongoing departmental cases or corruption allegations against them have also received promotions, fuelling further resentment among their peers.

In addition to the unrest within the Secretariat, the field administration is also experiencing instability. Deputy Commissioners (DCs) who were known to be aligned with the Awami League are reportedly facing anxiety and uncertainty, leading to a slowdown in administrative activities at the district level.

Anti-discrimination student activists have intensified their demands for the withdrawal of DCs accused of corruption, partisanship, and information leaks to the interim government. A source within the Ministry of Public Administration confirmed to UNB that all DCs aligned with the Awami League will be withdrawn and replaced, with the process already underway. The new appointments are expected to prioritize officials who were overlooked during the previous government, particularly those from the 24th, 25th, and 27th BCS batches.

In a recent move, the Ministry of Public Administration reassigned DCs from 25 districts, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, and Cumilla, to various ministries and departments, a decision made official through separate notifications on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the interim government has appointed five former additional secretaries, who were considered loyal to the BNP government, on a contract basis for two years. These officials, from the BCS 1982 batch, were promoted to senior secretaries the day after their appointments.

In a related development, a rift has emerged between the Ministry of Public Administration and the Financial Institutions Division. On Tuesday, the Financial Institutions Division issued a notification appointing Additional Secretary Md. Mofidur Rahman as the secretary of the division, bypassing the customary approval from the Ministry of Public Administration. This has raised eyebrows within the administration.

The notification, which has already been implemented and reflected on the Financial Institutions Division's website, caught many by surprise, highlighting the ongoing disarray within the civil service. While officials from both the Financial Institutions Division and the Ministry of Public Administration declined to comment on the matter publicly, it underscores the broader challenges facing the interim government as it seeks to restore order and discipline in the administration.