196 more deputy secretaries become joint secretaries 

The government today (20 March) promoted 196 deputy secretaries to the position of joint secretary.

The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification in this regard. 

Following the promotion, they have been designated as Officers on Special Duty (OSD) under the ministry, the notification reads. 

According to ministry sources, for this round of promotions, officials from the 24th batch of Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) were primarily considered, though some officers from previous batches who had been overlooked earlier have also been promoted. 

Among those promoted, 21 are currently serving as deputy commissioners.

A ministry official told The Business Standard that many officers from the 24th batch, who previously served as deputy commissioners or private secretaries to ministers, state ministers, and deputy ministers during the Awami League government, were not included in the promotion list. 

"Of the 336 administration cadre officers from this batch, 139 have been promoted to the position of joint secretary. With the latest promotions, the total number of joint secretaries in the administration now stands at 1,037," the official said.

As per the government's promotion regulations, 70% of joint secretary positions are allocated to administration cadre officers, while 30% are reserved for officers from other cadres.

The notification also stated that the newly promoted officers have been instructed to submit their joining letters directly to the senior secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration or via email. 

If an officer's workplace has been changed from the one mentioned in the notification, they must specify their current office details in the joining letter. 

Furthermore, if any adverse or conflicting information is found regarding any of the promoted officers in the future, the authority reserves the right to amend or cancel the promotion order, it added.