The pressure of lobbying has increased in the secretariat, the heart of the administration, around the upcoming parliamentary elections. Along with the officials, the concerned officials of the ministries are suffering a lot under the pressure of political lobbying.
Every day a lot of visitors came to various officials including ministers and secretaries with various demands. Some are also coming with semi-official papers (DO) of minister-MP.
MPs, mayors, upazila chairmen can be seen running around in many offices. Government employees are also running for their promotion and transfer.
The officials of the secretariat said that due to the election year, the lobbying has increased more than before.
It is known that visitors are prohibited from entering the secretariat on one day a week (Monday), but visitors try to enter the secretariat even on this day under various pretexts. Beyond the digital pass, many people are entering the secretariat by 'managing' different people every day.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque told Bangladesh Pratidin that many people come because of politics for the sake of the people. People always have expectations, they are not justified anymore. People come, we listen, explain the rules and regulations. If someone wants a job, we can't give it, let's see if there is something fair.
A joint secretary of the Ministry of Education said on condition of anonymity that there is already a lot of pressure in the Ministry of Education. This is an election year. People come from different areas. Even though I have jurisdiction to issue five admit cards, the PSs for Ministers or Deputy Ministers come and take the cards a lot of time. It is difficult to work at the desk with various campaigns with different schools and colleges.
Officials engaged in security at the secretariat said that about 1500 visitors enter with passes every day. If there is any request beyond this, entry is allowed for various reasons.
Mohammad Rashed Hossain Chowdhury, Deputy Secretary of Interior Ministry Public Security Department said that the number of passes has decreased. But he did not want to say how it decreased. According to the Government Servants Code of Conduct, 1979 - no government servant can influence any matter related to his employment. Yet many government officials are lobbying.
An additional secretary of the relief ministry said, many people think that in the election year, the work should be done with the chosen officials and ministers. If the minister or the chosen person is not in office in the next term, they have to work according to these every day. He also said that the people of my area come to me thinking that I can do a favor. The official also said that there is more political lobbying lately.
Senior Secretary of the Public Administration Division Mohammad Mesbah Uddin Chowdhury did not want to comment when asked about the matter.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain told Bangladesh Pratidin that there are so many people in my office and home now. Everyone is thinking whether they will get him again or not, whether he will be in charge or not. Many lobbies grew out of these thoughts.
The state minister also said that politics is for the people. We see one way, but overcrowding of officials disrupts routine work.
According to various sources in the secretariat, three groups work inside and outside the secretariat as lobbyists. A group manages access passes inside. A group deals with file pass or release agreements. A group works with good postings. Some are busy lobbying with their own work.
Various files reach the secretary by visiting different desks. A secretary has to go through half a hundred files every day on an average. Many important files are not being viewed properly or are getting delayed due to high traffic of visitors.
Recently, 9 Ministers, State Ministers and Parliamentary Standing Committee members gave DOs to promote some officials. Apart from this, many people are making requests verbally over the phone. Many times the officials also express their resentment.
A responsible official of the Ministry of Public Administration said that the requests of ministers and senior sirs cannot be kept or dismissed for a long time.
According to sources, the education, public administration, home, land, health, LGRD, law and relief ministries have to handle the most pressure of lobbying.
Starting from the ministers, secretaries and important officials of these ministries, they have to cope with the pressure of various types of lobbying. Someone is coming to the secretariat in the identity of minister's people, MP, or party leader, MP's relatives etc. with various issues.
Before the elections, many people are coming to the Ministry of Home Affairs with advocating for police reform. Some people are going around the Home Ministry about the change of the SP of the district and the OC of the police station. Someone is coming with a request to get a quick arms license or to set up a police outpost in their area.
@The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on August 21 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan.
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