Committee recommends retrospective promotion for 78 deprived officials
A high-level committee tasked with reviewing the cases of government officials denied promotions before retirement has submitted its second and final report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, recommending retrospective promotions for 78 long-overlooked officers.
The report was handed over Wednesday at the Chief Adviser’s Office by Zakir Ahmed Khan, former secretary and convener of the five-member committee. Siraz Uddin Mia, Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser, received the document in a formal meeting.
After months of rigorous evaluation, the committee has recommended 78 officials, who were deprived of rightful promotions during their service, to be elevated post-retirement across key grades: 12 officials recommended for Grade-1; 32 officials for Grade-2; and 34 officials for Grade-3.
Notably, six have been recommended for promotion by three grades, 17 by two grades, and 55 by one grade, reflecting the depth of past injustices and the committee’s effort to correct systemic imbalances.
These retrospective promotions aim to restore dignity and honour to officers who served diligently but were bypassed due to administrative delays, political interference, or procedural irregularities, many during the 2009-2024 period.
Established on September 16, 2024, the committee included representatives from the Cabinet Division, Ministry of Public Administration, Finance Division, and Law Ministry, ensuring cross-institutional oversight.
The review was conducted in two phases: Phase I (Completed December 10, 2024) focused on officials at the rank of Deputy Secretary and above and Phase II (Now Concluded) covered officials from non-Administration cadres holding Grade-3 or higher positions who retired between 2009 and August 4, 2024.
A total of 318 applications were received in Phase II. Of these, 68 fell outside the committee’s scope, 40 were incomplete, and 108 were deemed ineligible after scrutiny.
The remaining 210 applications underwent intense evaluation through 14 dedicated meetings.
At each meeting, an Additional Secretary-level representative from the concerned ministry attended to provide inputs, ensuring transparency and domain expertise. The committee also reviewed written recommendations from administrative ministries before finalising its decisions.
The committee did not recommend promotions for 132 officials, with clear, documented reasons provided in each case – including lack of eligibility, incomplete records, or failure to meet service criteria.
This emphasis on accountability underscores the committee’s commitment to fairness, not favouritism.
The review initiative, launched under the interim administration, marks a significant move toward correcting historical wrongs in the civil service and restoring morale among retired officials and their families.
The recommendations are now before the Chief Adviser and relevant ministries for final approval and implementation, including the settlement of arrears and benefits tied to the upgraded grades.