The government’s practice of appointing retired bureaucrats to key positions, including secretaries, on contractual basis without any clear policy guidelines has created a sense of injustice and frustration among officers who are still in service. The regular officials feel that they are being deprived of their rightful promotions and opportunities.

Twelve secretaries, including the top two positions – cabinet secretary and principal secretary – are currently employed on contract basis. The government has also appointed several former secretaries as ambassadors and to various government institutions on contract basis after suspending their post-retirement leave (PRL).

Meanwhile, 20 secretaries are set to retire this year, and there is a push among some for contract appointments, according to sources.
Officials within the Ministry of Public Administration revealed that trusted government officials are typically reappointed on contracts after their service period ends.

Often, regular officers are rehired on contracts with the suspension of Public Service Retirement Leave, and individuals who retired several years ago are also being reintegrated into government service.
The issue of contractual appointments is covered in the Public Service Act, allowing the President to appoint individuals to public service contracts post-retirement in the public interest. However, there are no clear government guidelines outlining the criteria and procedures for such appointments.

Between 1 January and 12 March, 36 individuals, including four secretaries and former government officials, were appointed under contract. In addition to ambassadors, central bank governors, commission and authority chairs, director generals, hospital directors, and railway technical positions, thousands of officials have been contracted for various projects.

Recent appointments include Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akhtar on 12 March, President’s Office Secretary Md Wahidul Islam Khan on 27 February, Railways Secretary Md Humayun Kabir on 15 February, and Internal Resources Department Secretary and NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Munim on 3 January.

Former senior secretary Sharifa Khan was appointed as an Alternate Executive Director of the World Bank on 10 March.

Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Md Tofazzal Hossain Miah, Defence Ministry Senior Secretary Md Hasibul Alam, Public Security Division Senior Secretary Md Mostafizur Rahman, Commerce Ministry Senior Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat Senior Secretary KM Abdus Salam, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Noori, and Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Mokammel Hossain are among those recruited on contract.

Additionally, Petroleum Corporation Chairman ABM Azad, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha Chairman Md Anisur Rahman Miah, SGD Chief Coordinator at PM’s Office Md Akhtar Hossain, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Chairman Lokman Hossain Mian, and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Executive Member Md Khairul Islam are recruited on contractual basis.
In December 2011, the cabinet approved an increase in the service age of government officials and employees from 57 to 59 years. In February 2013, the retirement age of freedom fighters was extended by one year to 60 years.

In March 2014, the then finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith wrote to the state minister for Public Administration, advising against the appointment of government officials on a contractual basis after reaching the service age.

Muhith recommended the formulation of a policy to determine the maximum age for such contractual appointments. However, there are no government guidelines outlining the criteria, duration, or procedure for such contractual appointments to date.

An official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, expressed concerns that appointing officials to top administrative positions on contracts year after year creates disillusionment among many, as the opportunity to ascend to such roles diminishes once their service age expires.

He emphasised that if regular officers consistently fill important posts, it would foster healthy competition among officers striving for advancement.
Another additional secretary said that many individuals seek to demonstrate loyalty to the ruling party through various means to secure contractual appointments after their regular tenure.

This trend, he noted, negatively impacts other officials. Despite the expectation that public administration officials perform their duties impartially, regardless of political affiliation, this principle is eroding.
Secretaries nearing retirement actively lobbying to secure contract-based appointment

Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain and PM’s Principal Secretary Tofazzal Hossain were appointed to one-year contracts in their respective positions. Mahbub’s contract will conclude on 10 October while Tofazzal Hossain’s will expire on 5 July.

Discussions have already commenced among officials regarding who will assume the top two positions in the administration. Additionally, the terms of 20 secretaries are set to end this year.
According to inquiries made at the Ministry of Public Administration, some secretaries nearing the end of their service are actively lobbying within various government circles to secure contract-based appointments.

Officials revealed that promotions to the position of secretary will be awarded from among the 15th batch of Bangladesh Civil Service officers.
Commenting on contract-based appointments, Public Administration Minister Farhad Hossain told the Daily Sun that the appointments of the cabinet secretary and the PM’s chief secretaries are pivotal decisions, falling under the purview of the PM.

Appointments to these roles are based on qualifications and suitability for the tasks at hand, he added.
Farhad Hossain underscored that there are no restrictions on making contractual appointments and that individuals chosen possess high levels of skill beneficial to the country’s development.
He added that all appointments made under contract were done so logically and in accordance with the law.