The BNP government’s first major round of civil service promotions has sparked fierce debate over political bias, putting it on the defensive over its pledge to run a merit-based administration. Dimple
The controversy erupted after the Ministry of Public Administration promoted 179 deputy secretaries to joint secretaries on 9 July.
Eyebrows were raised almost immediately when retired officials and individuals with disciplinary records made the list, while senior and highly rated candidates were left out. Notably, the top two merit-ranked officers from the 25th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) batch were overlooked entirely.
The 25th batch secured significantly more promotions, with 72 out of 204 officers promoted, compared to 45 out of 184 from the senior 24th batch.
Several officials at the Ministry of Public Administration alleged that one senior official largely dictated the promotions, while a former secretary accused the Superior Selection Board (SSB) of failing to conduct proper scrutiny.
Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani, who leads the SSB, offered a candid defence to TIMES of Bangladesh, saying, “Every government has some political considerations.”
Retired official promoted, then dropped
The promotion process faced further backlash after it emerged that Mainul Haque Bhuiyan, listed at number 53, had retired from government service on 30 June. His promotion was swiftly cancelled following public outcry.
He was far from the only contentious name. Mohammad Nazrul Islam, a deputy secretary at the Ministry of Defence, was promoted despite having a previous disciplinary record. While serving as assistant commissioner (land) in Demra, he was found guilty of misconduct and penalised with a three-year freeze on salary increments, a punishment later upheld by the president on appeal.
Similarly, Deputy Secretary Md Shahinur Islam of the Road Transport and Highways Division secured a promotion despite previous departmental sanctions. While serving as additional deputy commissioner (revenue) in Nilphamari, he was placed at the lowest step of his pay scale for a year after being found guilty of drafting a fraudulent agreement regarding a Teesta River sand quarry lease without depositing the cheque through banking channels.
Most surprisingly, Deputy Secretary Sadekur Rahman was also promoted despite having been suspended on 28 May under direct orders from the prime minister for failing to clear sacrificial animal waste during Eid-ul-Adha.
Although promoted, he remains attached to the Ministry of Public Administration while a formal investigation into his conduct continues.
Questions over seniority, selection process
One overlooked officer from the 24th BCS batch, who has now been excluded from three consecutive promotion rounds, said he was completely in the dark about the reason behind his omission.
“Perhaps the government simply does not see me as one of their own,” he quipped when asked about his repeated exclusion.
Insiders explained that the SSB is tasked with evaluating candidates and recommending promotions for senior administrative positions, ranging from deputy secretary to secretary.
Chaired by the cabinet secretary, the high-level panel includes the prime minister’s principal secretary, the PMO secretary, the comptroller and auditor general, and senior secretaries from the ministries of public administration, home and finance.
In this instance, the board spent eight months reviewing candidates before submitting its recommendations. The Ministry of Public Administration then forwarded the proposal to the PMO, with official gazette notifications issued shortly after receiving clearance.
However, the sheer number of omissions has cast serious doubt on the rigour of the vetting process.
Former secretary AKM Abdul Awal Majumder said promotions to joint secretary do not involve formal examinations; instead, candidates are assessed on the basis of Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs), intelligence clearances and broader performance indicators.
Evaluating the latest round, he accused the SSB of outright negligence during the verification process.
“The real tragedy here is the damage inflicted on the government’s credibility,” Awal said, adding, “And that damage has already been done.”
‘Political considerations exist in every govt’
Addressing the inclusion of a retired official in the promotion list, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani acknowledged it as a mistake.
“If a retired official was promoted, it was an oversight,” he told TIMES.
Regarding candidates with previous disciplinary records, Ghani explained that their cases had been formally resolved, clearing the legal path for their advancement.
However, when pressed on allegations that political bias had influenced the process, Ghani was direct.
“Would you promote someone from the Awami League who served as deputy commissioners during the elections?” he asked.
Asked whether civil servants are now being judged purely through a partisan lens, he added, “Those who directly aided the Awami League as deputy commissioners during the election will not receive promotions under this administration. The previous government operated under the exact same logic.”
The cabinet secretary’s remarks, along with the BNP government’s approach to managing the civil service, contrast with its pledge of a merit-based administration and raise concerns over professional neutrality.
