Govt abolishes Public Administration Committee

Govt seal

Dhaka, Oct 30 — The government has abolished the Public Administration Committee, which was formed to advise on the appointment, transfer, and disciplinary matters of senior officials.

The Cabinet Division issued a notification on Wednesday announcing the abolition of the committee, days after former Senior Secretary Shamsul Alam publicly criticized its role in a Facebook post on October 27.

The six-member committee was chaired by Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, with Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan serving as member secretary. The other members included Advisers Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan and Md. Mahfuj Alam, the Cabinet Secretary, and the Senior Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration.

Formed on January 8, the Public Administration Committee was tasked with advising on the appointment, transfer, and disciplinary matters of Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Joint Secretaries, and higher-ranking officers.

Initially, former Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md. Nahid Islam served as member secretary. Following his resignation, Adviser Mahfuj Alam was appointed to the role on March 20. Later, on August 25, Syeda Rizwana Hasan was made member secretary, while the Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser was also added to the committee.

The last restructuring of the committee took place on September 21, when the Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser was removed from its membership.

In a Facebook post on October 27, former Senior Secretary Shamsul Alam questioned the effectiveness of the Superior Selection Board (SSB) and the Public Administration Committee, accusing them of enabling irregular promotions.

He wrote, “What do they do there? Is it just to block qualified officers? This unfair committee, which goes beyond the rules of business, has legitimized the misdeeds of the ‘Mokhles’—secretaries sold for crores of taka have passed through their hands.”

He further alleged that “even after the approval of Chief Adviser Professor Yunus, qualified senior officers were denied rightful positions,” calling it “an unprecedented injustice in the history of Bengal.” - UNB