Plans could not be implemented due to manpower shortage: BSEC chairman
Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Chairman Khondaker Rashed Maqsood has said that many of the reform and development plans undertaken after the current commission assumed office could not be implemented on time due to an acute shortage of manpower.
However, he claimed that despite these limitations, the commission is actively working to develop the capital market. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon while speaking as the chair at the "BSEC Capital Market Journalism Excellence Awards" ceremony held in the capital.
Regarding BSEC's performance, Khondaker Rashed Maqsood said that against an approved workforce of 370 positions, only 260 officials and employees are currently working at the commission.
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He noted that as a government institution, BSEC cannot recruit or take measures beyond the approved manpower structure.
"Despite these constraints, we have tried our best to continue operations on an interim basis," he said.
The BSEC chairman further explained that due to the manpower shortage, the tenure of several committees formed under the commission has had to be extended repeatedly. At the same time, officials are being engaged in multiple investigation activities outside their respective departments. In many cases, a single official is involved in four to seven investigations simultaneously, significantly increasing workload pressure, he added.
However, he assured that there has been no compromise in the quality or effectiveness of investigations. According to him, the commission is taking lawful and effective actions based on the investigation reports submitted by BSEC's investigation officers.
On 30 April, the commission temporarily suspended 21 officials on charges of breaching discipline.
At the event, a total of nine journalists were awarded the BSEC Capital Market Journalism Excellence Award in three categories – print, television, and online – in recognition of their contributions to capital market journalism.
The BSEC chairman also highlighted the positive and constructive role of journalists in ensuring capital market stability, boosting investor confidence, and promoting the development of a transparent, accountable, and advanced capital market system.
