Lobbying stalls appointment to public administration secretary’s post vacant for over two weeks

Ministry of Public Administration has been without a secretary since Sept 21, with the appointment stalled amid intense lobbying by several political parties for their preferred officers, according to multiple officials familiar with the process. The post fell vacant after a sudden government order removed Senior Secretary Md Mokhlesur Rahman, who had been appointed on a two-year contract following the political change on Aug 5, 2024. He has since been reassigned as a member of the Planning Commission. A BNP-leaning faction in the civil service had accused him of “favouritism and corruption” before his removal. In the interim, Additional Secretary Abu Shaheen Md Asaduzzaman of the ministry’s career planning and training wing is handling routine duties of the secretary. Officials...