Special Correspondent

Administrative instability within the civil service and law enforcement agencies has persisted despite the formation of a new government following the 13th parliamentary election, with ongoing concerns over promotions, postings, contract appointments, and growing anxiety over forced retirements.

Following the July mass uprising, numerous civil service and police officials linked to controversial policies of the ousted Awami League regime have faced punitive measures, including forced retirement and administrative actions against former field administration officials accused of political bias.

Most recently on July 27, thirty-two former deputy commissioners who served as returning officers during the disputed 2018 national election were sent into forced retirement. This follows action by the previous interim government under Dr. Muhammad Yunus, which sent over fifty administration cadre officials into forced retirement and placed several influential figures on Officer on Special Duty (OSD) status until their normal retirement.

Despite recommendations from the Public Administration Reform Commission advocating for merit-based appointments and a politically neutral administration—principles also outlined in the July Proclamation and the BNP's election manifesto—concerns remain over contract appointments.

On July 23, the government appointed BNP and affiliate leaders to top positions across eleven public offices on one-year contracts at the Grade-2 level. Out of 82 senior secretaries and secretaries currently in service, 21 are serving on contract, including the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Public Administration Secretary, Home Secretary, and Election Commission Secretary.

The appointment of Md. Shamsul Alam as Additional Secretary to the Election Commission on July 23 has drawn criticism from the NCP as he previously served on a committee dealing with constituency demarcation. Furthermore, recent promotion lists released on July 9—which elevated 179 deputy secretaries to joint secretaries—faced controversy after bypassing top-ranking officers from the 24th and 25th BCS batches while including officials with prior penalties.

Inter-cadre discrimination remains unresolved two years after the uprising, with the Inter-Cadre Discrimination Eradication Council stating that disparities have widened rather than diminished. Meanwhile, the police administration is experiencing similar anxiety, with 141 police officers, including three additional DIGs on July 23, forced into retirement since the mass uprising, alongside 113 officers currently attached to various units.

Former IGP Mohammad Ashraful Huda noted that while the government possesses the legal authority to retire officers who have completed 25 years of service, decisions made without thorough and proper scrutiny could trigger adverse long-term reactions.

Public administration expert Firoz Mia observed that the administration has not been restructured effectively, allowing partisan trends to persist and leaving qualified, neutral officials sidelined while widespread anxiety exacerbates overall instability.