A total of 17 deputy secretaries have been recommended for various punishments after being found guilty of engaging in unprecedented chaos over the appointment of new deputy commissioners (DCs) across the country.
It is recommended that eight deputy secretaries receive severe punishment, four lighter punishments while five of them are reprimanded, Md. Mokhlesur Rahman, senior secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, said on Monday, Daily Sun reports.
The punishments were given based on an investigation report, said the government's high official, while addressing a press conference at his secretariat office in Dhaka.
Earlier on September 11, a number of deputy secretaries from various ministries were locked into heated arguments with senior officials at the Ministry of Public Administration 11 September over the appointment of new DCs in the country’s public administration.
The government has recently appointed DCs for 59 districts, however, the appointments of eight DCs in Lakshmipur, Joypurhat, Kushtia, Rajshahi, Sirajganj, Shariatpur, Dinajpur, and Rajbari have been cancelled later.
Many of them are accused of corruption and favouritism during the Awami League government tenure, leading to widespread unrest among the officials.
In response to the matter, the ministry has formed a one-member investigation committee led by Senior Secretary MA Akmal Hossain of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The committee has also been tasked with reporting on the incident within seven working days.
bd-pratidin/GR
