Contract Expirations Spark Major Reshuffle in Bangladesh Public Service
Big changes are coming to Bangladesh’s public administration. Several senior officials will soon finish their work contracts. This includes the Cabinet Secretary, Nasimul Ghani. Md. Ehsanul Hoque, Senior Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, is also leaving his post.
These contract endings will start a large reshuffle across the government. Many other key positions are also empty. The Housing and Public Works Ministry lost its Secretary in July. The Prime Minister’s Office still needs a Secretary. The Finance Division Secretary, Md. Khairuzzaman Mozumder, will retire in October.
Many new officers will be appointed, and top responsibilities will be reassigned. Transfers and new postings are expected for many Secretaries and Additional Secretaries.
A main point of discussion is who will fill these roles. Some suggest that officers whose contracts are ending might get new important jobs. Others believe new appointments should come from regular senior government officers. The government will make the final decisions.
Contractual appointments have increased in top positions. This causes much debate. Data shows that 23 out of 79 Secretaries or equivalent officers, about 29 percent, are currently serving on contract. This means officers who have retired are brought back to work.
Supporters say these officers were unfairly passed over for promotions before. They argue the government should use their skills for a limited time. However, critics claim that bringing back long-retired officers disrupts the system. It also reduces promotion chances for regular officers, causing frustration.
An Additional Secretary said these contract jobs create problems. They also make regular officers feel upset. He suggested forming an “advisory council” instead for their skills.
These contract jobs also increase government spending. A Secretary’s basic monthly salary is Tk 78,000, plus other benefits.
Salahuddin M. Aminuzzaman, an expert in public administration, stated that a few contract jobs are fine for highly skilled people. But he warned that too many create problems and disappoint junior officers waiting for promotion.
The final decisions about who gets these important jobs are still unknown. This remains a widely discussed topic among all government officers.
