Field administration shake-up underway ahead of national polls
Most DCs expected to be reassigned by Nov
The government has launched an initiative to reorganise field administration ahead of the national parliamentary elections, with the Ministry of Public Administration preparing a new "fit list" to consider deputy secretaries for the post of deputy commissioners (DC).
According to ministry sources, interviews began on Wednesday, when 10 deputy secretaries were assessed for DC appointments. Today (30 October), 20 more candidates were interviewed, and today, at the weekend, 10 additional deputy secretaries will be assessed. Most of the 40 candidates belong to the 29th batch of the BCS.
On Wednesday, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus met with officials from various ministries, divisions, and agencies to discuss election preparations.
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After the meeting, the Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said, "The most competent officers will be posted to the most sensitive areas. However, no one will be assigned to their home districts or the districts of their in-laws. We will also ensure that if any of their relatives are contesting in the elections, it will be taken into account during postings. These measures will start on 1 November."
He added, "For field administration positions such as DC, ADC, and UNO, which carry judicial responsibilities, no officer who was involved in the last three election processes will be posted. Even minimal involvement in previous elections disqualifies them. While making postings, we will carefully consider political affiliations, physical fitness, work efficiency, and any reports of irregularities in the media."
Ministry sources explained that DC appointments follow general guidelines. First, a fit list of deputy secretary-level officers is prepared through viva examinations to assess their suitability. From this list, DCs are appointed based on competence, seniority, and other qualifications.
A DC is the chief administrative officer of a district, overseeing more than 300 committees. During elections, DCs act as returning officers and are responsible for ensuring free and fair polls in their districts.
An official added, "A fit list already exists for all 64 districts, but top-level instructions have directed us to select additional officers. This gives the government more options to ensure neutrality and efficiency. A new fit list is being prepared, and most DCs are expected to be reassigned by November."
