Turmoil in administration over recruitment and transfers

Bangla Press Desk:   As the 13th national election approaches, reshuffles have begun across the administration. Officials are receiving new postings, being moved from their current roles, or seeing appointments cancelled shortly after being made.

These rapid changes have created unrest, leaving many unsure about their future and anxious about whether they will keep their positions. According to officials linked to the Public Administration Ministry and other ministries, no one feels settled, and fear of sudden transfers is growing.

Experts say recruitment and transfers are routine tasks, but responsible officials are failing to handle them efficiently. Many officers also struggle to gain the trust of desk officials and relevant authorities, fueling criticism.

The government recently appointed 50 deputy commissioners (DCs), and they have joined their posts. However, authorities cancelled the appointments of two DCs amid criticism, and removed another who had been appointed only a month earlier.

Many are questioning why proper vetting is not done before appointments and why cancellations are damaging officials’ reputations afterward. Critics say some DC appointments prioritized how neglected the candidates were under the previous government rather than their skills in land administration or magistracy.

The confusion extends beyond DC positions. Orders appointing additional secretaries, joint secretaries, deputy secretaries, and senior assistant secretaries are frequently being revised.

Some officials avoid joining their new posts by lobbying to stay in their current stations even after receiving transfer orders. Many officers use ministry secretaries or political figures to block “stand release” orders from Public Administration, allowing them to remain where they are.

With the election nearing, officials are constantly visiting the Public Administration Ministry to secure favorable postings.

UNOs and assistant commissioners in the field worry about where they might be moved, how far the new station will be, and whether they will remain within the same district or division.

Senior officers warn incoming field officials that no field-level changes will happen without clear instructions, but they will act immediately once orders arrive.

Joint and deputy secretaries across ministries closely monitor whether they might be removed and request consideration if transfers happen.

Some say they have held their current post for only six months or a year and do not want another transfer. The ministry’s administration wing remains packed with anxious officers.

Meanwhile, political grouping within various batches has intensified. Some groups reportedly try to block officers they dislike from getting good postings, which strengthens less capable officials and slows ministry operations.

One official said he feels exhausted listening to constant complaints, batch rivalries, and officers trying to undermine one another.

A Home Ministry officer said every government sees informal groups rise against capable officers. Keeping good officers out benefits inefficient ones and ultimately harms the state.

Officials have been crowding the Public Administration Ministry in recent days to track the reshuffle. A Cabinet Division officer said frequent surprise transfers increase internal anxiety, especially among those who have been in the same post for a long time.

The administration also faces frustration over promotions. Officers from the 24th batch who haven’t become joint secretaries and officers from the 30th batch who haven’t become deputy secretaries still hope for promotion.

Regular officers from the 20th batch have yet to become additional secretaries despite serving as joint secretaries for four years. Many say the long wait has drained their motivation.

In field administration, UNOs from the 34th, 35th and 36th batches remain worried. Many enrolled their children in local schools or have spouses working in the same district.

Those who have served two years are particularly anxious. Sources say UNOs who completed two years in the field will likely be withdrawn, and most UNOs will receive new postings.

The government is expected to finalize decisions within a week. Officers also want to know when the 37th batch will be posted as UNOs.

Additional district administrators (ADCs) also expect district changes and are monitoring developments.

Former secretary A K M Abdul Awal Majumder told Bangladesh Pratidin that reshuffles occurred before past elections, but not with this level of criticism.

He said current officials are failing to manage the situation effectively or communicate clearly. He added that a stable administration benefits the government before an election and urged authorities to appoint capable officers to good positions without listening to informal influences.

BP/SP