Many complaints like irregularities-corruption-women scandals against many senior officials including the field administration as abuse of power, and family problems are also coming up in allegations.
Even though there are many complaints against UNO and Aceland of the field administration, ADC, DC, assistant secretary of the ministry, deputy secretary, and other senior officials are not left out. Many officials are misbehaving with people without following the code of conduct or misusing their power.
Due to this, complaints are increasing in the name of officials working in the field administration and other officials in the Public Administration Ministry and the Cabinet Department. The ministry is also taking strict action against the culprits after investigating the complaint. However, as complaints are increasing day by day, the administration is embarrassed.
Hundreds of complaints are being submitted to the public administration every month against different officials. And on average 20-25 complaints are being received in the cabinet department.
Sources from the Ministry of Public Administration and the Cabinet Division also informed that currently, 64 complaints against field administration officials are under investigation in the Cabinet Division.
According to the sources of the cabinet division, about 2, 388 complaints of various misdemeanors including women scandals were received against various officials in the past period. After investigating these allegations, only 227 officials were registered as departmental cases. In this case, some have received minor punishments, and some have been sentenced to major punishments. Many files were disposed of as the allegations were not substantiated.
According to the sources of the Ministry of Public Administration, the complaint of the field administration is sent to the Cabinet Division when it comes to Public Administration. The matter of the concerned ministry is sent to that ministry. Last April, 97 complaints were received in the public administration in the name of various officials. Of these, two departmental cases have been filed. Two departmental cases were filed against 80 complaints in May and 4 departmental cases against 126 complaints in June. In July, 61 complaints resulted in two cases, and in August, 107 complaints were filed and two cases were filed. As of last August, there are 28 ongoing departmental cases. Two to three departmental cases are disposed of every month.
Md. Amin ul Ahsan, Additional Secretary (District and Field Administration Section) of the Cabinet Division said, “We do not leave any application that comes to us. Every investigation is taken with utmost importance.”
Meanwhile, there are allegations of not giving appropriate punishment in many cases, influencing, lobbying, and avoiding major punishments in many cases. However, according to the relevant responsible officials, the punishment is less as most of the complaints are false in the investigation. Those against whom the charges are proven are being punished.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain told Bangladesh Pratidin, “Investigation is being done taking into account the complaints of the field administration. Some are investigated by the Divisional Commissioner's Office, DC Office, and some by the Ministry. We are investigating and taking immediate action. No charges are pending. In terms of punishment for officials, there is light punishment and severe punishment. Punishment is given according to the crime.”
“Recently the DC of Jamalpur was brought out of the field but he spoke on behalf of the government. Here we see that DC has breached it in a neutral place and the government has been embarrassed. We brought him up according to the rules. No one will be exempted if involved in irregularities and corruption. Strict action is being taken against those found to be involved,” he added.
(The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on October 10 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan)
