The government is going hard on cutting illicit acts, irregularities and corruption by officials in charge of various field level administrations, said sources.
The move comes as part of the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward corruption and crimes.
According to sources concerned, the field level administration officials have already been warned through the divisional commissioner to comply with government service rules.
Besides, the Ministry of Public Administration said that this warning has been issued to various forums of the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) cadres. The warning has also been issued through the social media of the ministry.
Sources said the government is going to take punitive action against those officials who will be found involved in corruption and other crimes. Punishment will include compulsory retirement from jobs, filing of departmental lawsuits and stopping of promotions. Besides, many might be made Officers on Special Duty (OSD).
Depending on the nature of the crime, even criminal cases may be filed against them. Criminal cases would be filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against them.
Sheikh Yusuf Harun, senior secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, said action has already been taken against those who have been found involved in crimes in the field level administrations.
Besides, the officials concerned of the field level administrations have also been asked to abide by the service rules and comply with the code of conduct.
Sources concerned said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had earlier already given the message to all the officials and employees to become honest and devoted to their own duties and responsibilities in the administrations.
As per the directives of the Prime Minister, the senior officials of the Ministry of Public Administration had been monitoring the administration strictly.
But, meanwhile, it seems that suddenly various illicit and criminal activities by the officers working in the field level administrations have increased. Being influenced by various influential quarters, including politicians, they are being involved in corruption and other illicit acts and crimes. Among those officers, most of them are the Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) and Assistant Commissioners (Land).
Concerned officials of the Ministry of Public Administration said that influential politicians have been intervening to prevent the transfer of those officials of field administrations found involved in the crimes.
The Ministry of Public Administration is considering keeping the administration free from political influence and dominance.
On condition of anonymity, an additional secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration said, the Public Administration secretary as well as the ministry is trying to run the administrations as per the directives of the Prime Minister.
“In this regard, the senior officials have taken various initiatives. They are also working hard. But, there is uncertainty whether these initiatives would be successful”, he said.
The additional secretary alleged that despite not qualifying, most of the officials try to lobby for promotions and transfers. On the other hand, they also apply the same practice in cases of stopping their transfers.
Talking about the crime trends by the officials in the field level administrations, a UNO, however, said action must be taken against those who are guilty. But there are many UNOs who only run on their salary money. Everyone is not involved in crime.
In an unscheduled discussion, Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Sheikh Yusuf Harun at a function on December 24 mentioned that the crime trend has increased among the field level officials of the administration. He said he has to hear several departmental cases every day.
“Many of them are getting punished in these cases. On the other hand, many are engaged in lobbying to avoid responsibility for their crimes in the field level. It is very painful”, he said.
He cited the example of many UNOs and ACs (Land).
The public administration secretary said, ‘We are really embarrassed when officials lobby to stop transfers and for transfers.”
“I had asked one of them, why do you want to be transferred to Dhaka?” He replied, “I am the president of that batch of the BCS cadre. I have a lot of work to do in my batch. For this I need to go to Dhaka.”
