4 candidates in discussion as tenures of principal and cabinet secretaries to end soon
UNB
Publish: 07 Jun 2024, 05:23 PM
Dhaka,
Jun 7 (UNB)-The tenures of cabinet secretary and the principal secretary to the
Prime Minister are set to end this year prompting speculation on who are coming
next.
Cabinet Secretary Md.
Mahbub Hossain's contract will expire in October while Principal Secretary
Mohammad Tofazzel Hossain Miah's in July.
Sources said that new
faces may be chosen to fill these top positions.
Four secretaries are
currently in consideration for the role of principal secretary: Senior
Secretary Md. Mostafa Kamal of the Ministry of Shipping, Senior Secretary
Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury of the Ministry of Public Administration,
Senior Secretary Zakia Sultana of the Ministry of Industries and Secretary
Mohammad Salahuddin from the Prime Minister's Office.
However, Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina will take the final decision to appoint the secretaries for the
posts, confirmed sources.
Currently, the top two
positions are held by officers from the 1986 (8th) and 1987 (9th) batches of
the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS). If their contracts aren't renewed, new
appointments will likely come from the 9th and 10th BCS batches, sources said.
Principal Secretary
Tofazzel Hossain Miah's contract ends in the first week of July while Mahbub
Hossain in mid-October.
Public Administration
Minister Farhad Hossain told UNB that the prime minister discourages the
contractual appointment for the posts.
He informed that some
critical positions were filled on a contractual basis before the elections
considering the situation and such appointments are no longer deemed necessary.
Minister Farhad also
informed that some technical and essential positions in the administration may
still require contractual appointments.
It was learnt that
usually seniority principles are followed for top administrative roles and this
may remain in place for the upcoming appointments.
From the BCS 9th batch,
Senior Secretary Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury and Senior Secretary Ahmed
Munirus Saleheen of Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission are in regular
service. Saleheen is set to retire on August 28, while Mezbah Uddin on December
30.
If everything goes well,
the possibility of Mezbah Uddin becoming the cabinet secretary is higher, many
from the administration think.
For the principal
secretary position, speculations are on about 10th batch officers Mostafa Kamal
and Zakia Sultana. Both were appointed as secretaries on December 24, 2020.
Mostafa Kamal is
expected to retire on September 9, 2025 while Zakia Sultana on December 31, 2026.
Mostafa, the current president of the Bangladesh Administrative Service
Association, is considered a strong contender. If seniority is not strictly
followed, Salahuddin from the 13th batch might also be considered.
Many senior officials
oppose further contractual appointments, arguing that the administration has
become well-established over the past 53 years of independence and the
continuous leadership of the current prime minister. They believe that capable
and senior regular officials should be appointed to these roles.
Former Secretary Abu
Alam Md. Shahid Khan shared his observation with UNB saying that contractual
appointments at the secretary level halt promotions across four tiers,
preventing additional, joint, deputy and senior assistant secretaries from
advancing.
He emphasised the need
for regular appointments to ensure career progression.
Echoing the
administrative officials, former Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder suggested
moving away from the culture of contractual appointments, even if they are
legally permissible.
He also said that such
appointments deny subsequent batches the opportunity to ascend to secretary
roles.
End/UNB/M/SU/F