Bureaucrats from 25 cadres to rally against reform proposals

Senior Staff Reporter Published: 21 December 2024, 08:25 PM
Bureaucrats from 25 cadres to rally against reform proposals
Leaders of 25 cadres held a meeting to exchange views at the Public Works Building at Segunbagicha in Dhaka on Saturday. – Jago News Photo

The Inter-Cadre Inequality Elimination Council, representing 25 bureaucratic cadres outside the administration, has announced a series of protests against several draft recommendations proposed by the Public Administration Reform Commission.

The protests, including pen-down strikes, human chains, and rallies, will continue until January 4, 2024. A key point of contention is the commission’s recommendation of a 50% quota for the administration cadre in the Deputy Secretary pool, with the remaining 50% allocated for merit-based appointments from other cadres. Additionally, the commission has proposed separating the education and health cadres from the civil service.

At a view-exchange held on Saturday, December 21, at the Public Works Building in Dhaka, the council outlined their protest agenda. The meeting was moderated by Dr Muhammad Mofizur Rahman, the council’s coordinator, and attended by senior leaders, including presidents and secretaries from the 25 cadres.

As part of their protest programme: Each cadre association will release a statement regarding the situation caused by the central decision on December 23, on December 24 they will go for a one-hour office strike from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, on December 26, they will form a human chain in front of all offices, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.

And on January 4, 2024, a rally will be held in Dhaka, with further protest programmes to be announced afterward.

The council expressed strong opposition to the commission’s draft recommendations, particularly the proposed quota system for the Deputy Secretary pool, which they believe discriminates against other cadres. According to the council, the Senior Service Pool or Deputy Secretary Pool should be based on merit, as stipulated by the Service Act, 1975. However, the administration cadre has allegedly continued the quota system under various justifications, which the council argues undermines merit-based public service appointments.

Speakers at the meeting also condemned the Public Administration Reform Commission for making these recommendations without consulting the Inter-Cadre Discrimination Elimination Council, which represents the 25 other cadres. They criticized the control of the administration cadre over multiple sectors, claiming it has resulted in bureaucratic mismanagement, corruption, and discrimination, ultimately depriving citizens of effective public services.

The proposed separation of the education and health cadres from the civil service has also raised doubts among the council members, who fear it could lead to chaos within the civil service. They are calling for all ministries to be led by officials from the relevant cadres and demand the establishment of a quota-free, merit-based Deputy Secretary pool to build a non-discriminatory, public welfare-oriented state.

In addition, the Public Administration Secretary’s recent announcement to grant Grade-1 status to members of the administration cadre, including retired and deceased officials, has added to the frustration, especially since other cadres are reportedly being assigned Grade-3 or Grade-4 status. The council sees this as further evidence of biased treatment in favor of the administration cadre.