Online Desk  :  A group of promotion-deprived officials, who retired during the Awami League government, staged a protest in front of the office of Senior Secretary Md Mokhlesur Rahman of the Ministry of Public Administration in the Secretariat, demanding the implementation of the committee’s recommendations. More than fifty officials gathered and sat in front of the Senior Secretary’s office after 10:30 am on Sunday. Around 11:30 am, the Public Administration Secretary came out to speak with the protesting officials but faced harsh criticism. The angry officials spoke loudly to the secretary, with some demanding his resignation.

In response, the secretary informed them that no file regarding the retrospective promotion of the deprived officials had yet arrived from the Office of the Chief Adviser. He assured them that as soon as the file arrives, he would process it. Despite this, the protesting officials continued raising their voices. The secretary then returned to his office. On December 10, the Committee for Reviewing the Applications of Retired Deprived Officials submitted its report to the Chief Adviser, Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The committee’s head, former Finance Secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan, along with other committee members, presented the report with the necessary recommendations at the residence of the Chief Adviser in Jamuna.

The committee has recommended the promotion of 764 officials to the positions of Deputy Secretary, Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary, and Secretary. Later, speaking to the media in his office, the Public Administration Secretary stated that the deprived officials would be granted financial benefits in addition to their promotions. He added that no file had yet been received from the Office of the Chief Adviser on this matter. Once the file arrives, he assured that the process would be completed within a day. However, the protesting officials were not reassured by the secretary’s statements. They declared that they would continue their protest in front of the secretary’s office until the promotion order is issued with a gazette notification.