After years of uncertainty, 259 individuals who had been recommended for BCS cadre positions but faced delays in their appointments have finally received their appointment gazettes. Despite excelling in all stages of the BCS exams, their appointments had been inexplicably stalled, leaving some waiting for as long as 14 years.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification for these individuals, instructing them to join their respective posts by September 1st. Although their appointments have now been confirmed, they will begin their roles as probationary officers for the first two years.
One such individual is Mahbub Ul Alam, who was recommended for the administration cadre in the 28th BCS exam in October 2010. Despite a clean police verification, his name was not included in the final gazette at that time.
“My police report was clear, and I had no legal issues, yet my appointment was withheld,” Alam told BBC Bangla.
From the 28th to the 42nd BCS, more than 400 candidates faced similar issues. However, the latest gazette includes 259 of these individuals, who have been appointed with salaries ranging from 22,000 to 53,060 BDT as per the 2015 national pay scale. Although their seniority will be maintained according to their original batch, they will not receive any backdated financial benefits.
Former Secretary Abu Alam Shahid Khan commented, “They have indeed suffered from discrimination. However, since they were not in service, they will not be entitled to any arrears.”
14 Years After Passing BCS, Appointment Finally Confirmed
The results of the 28th BCS exam were announced on October 25, 2010, under the jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC). Despite receiving recommendations, many candidates were excluded from the final gazette due to negative police reports.
Among those listed in the recent gazette is Mahbub Ul Alam, who expressed his frustration: “I passed the BCS and was recommended for the administration cadre, but for unknown reasons, I was excluded. Fourteen crucial years of my life have been lost. How can I ever regain that lost time?”
Alam, a former economics student at Jahangirnagar University, had been working in an administrative role at a private university before leaving to start his own business. Many who were excluded from the final gazette had taken their cases to court, with some receiving favorable judgments from the High Court. However, it was not until the recent change in government that their appointments were finalized.
Alam is set to join his post in September but expressed mixed feelings about the delayed appointment: “I was supposed to join this job 14 years ago, and now, after all this time, it’s difficult to reconcile with that.”
Questions Surrounding Police Verification Reports
Before issuing a gazette, the Ministry of Public Administration conducts police verifications on appointees, usually through the Special Branch (SB) of the police. In recent years, under the Awami League government, other intelligence agencies and the Deputy Commissioner’s office have also been involved in this process.
Abdullah Al Zubayer, a former student of Dhaka University, was recommended for the education cadre in the 35th BCS but was excluded from the final gazette. Zubayer later discovered that despite having no legal or political issues, his father’s involvement in BNP politics might have been the reason for his exclusion.
“I don’t engage in politics, and I have no criminal record. Yet, I was denied the position,” Zubayer, who now works as a senior specialist at an NGO, told BBC Bangla. Although he was supposed to join the service in 2017, he will now join seven years later.
Alam from the 28th BCS also stated that there were no legal or political issues reported against him, making his exclusion even more puzzling.
No Arrears or Financial Benefits
The gazette clearly states that while these appointees will retain their seniority according to their batch, they will not receive any backdated financial benefits. Additionally, they will serve a two-year probation period, which could be extended if deemed necessary.
Despite their qualifications, many appointees have faced significant financial and personal challenges due to the delay. Several have requested the Ministry of Public Administration to reconsider the decision on arrears and benefits.
Zubayer noted that a 2019 High Court ruling had ordered compensation and seniority for 17 appointees, but this has not been reflected in the recent gazette. “I am now earning more than the salary I will receive in this position,” he remarked.
Former Secretary Abu Alam Shahid Khan added, “They will not only face financial setbacks but also lag in experience. This is an issue that will likely be raised in the future, but it is expected that the government will follow its regulations.”
Source: BBC Bangla
