Baharam Khan

The Election Commission Secretariat has informed Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser to the interim government, earlier this month about the preparations needed to hold a free and fair election as political parties’ calls for polls grow louder.

The government is considering promoting around 600 officers from the 24th and 30th BCS batches to joint secretary and deputy secretary, according to officials in the public administration ministry.

The interim government is moving to approve the creation of around 14,000 temporary posts at the community level in the health sector to strengthen the workforce at the grassroots.

Experts have welcomed the decision to raise the age limit for entry into government jobs by two years to 32 as a positive move.

A retired bureaucrat, Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan has been tasked with heading three significant ministries for the economy: power, energy and mineral resources; road transport and bridges; and railways.

The government has drafted a list of around 3,500 cadre posts to be filled through the 47th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination. The number may increase, making it the largest BCS circular in the last 11 cycles, confirmed sources at the Chief Adviser’s Office and the Public Service Commission.

The government plans to sell some vegetables at subsidised prices for the low-income groups as part of a pilot project in the capital.

A government committee has recommended raising the maximum age for applying for public service jobs to 35 years for men and 37 years for women.

The government considers raising the age limit for public jobs to 32 or 33 amid demonstrations for it to be 35, said sources at the Secretariat.

The interim government is struggling to restore normalcy at the top and local administration despite being in power for more than seven weeks, leaving the implementation of government policies and service delivery in a wishy-washy state.

Public servants will have to present the wealth statements of themselves, their spouses, children, and dependents every year, according to a new amendment to the rules.

The government has decided to take stringent action against some deputy secretaries involved in a recent scuffle at the public administration ministry over the postings of deputy commissioners (DCs).

In an unprecedented scene, Bangladesh Secretariat yesterday witnessed a fistfight among a section of public administration ministry officials over the appointment of 59 deputy commissioners in the last two days.

The interim government is likely to withdraw 39 more deputy commissioners within a day or two.

New additional secretaries who have been pressing for promotion to secretaries must work for a year before they are considered for the promotion, according to a recent decision.

Chief Adviser Prof Mohammad Yunus has encouraged secretaries of all the ministries and divisions to think “outside the box” while bringing about reforms to the government’s operations.

The government has instructed all its employees to submit their wealth statements as per the existing rules.

Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today said government employees should regularly submit their wealth statements.

The interim government is planning to formulate an ordinance to establish a commission to ensure justice for the victims of enforced disappearances and their families.

Amid lobbying by deputy commissioners seeking transfer from their once desired post, the interim government yesterday transferred 25 of them.