The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shamim Jahangir

A total of 285 BCS (Agriculture) officials under Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) didn't get promotion due to the bureaucratic red tapism during last 14 years.

The officials have expressed their resentment, as they didn't get promotion after completing full requirement because of alleged indecision of the Establishment, Agriculture and Finance Ministries, sources said.

The officials are additional agriculture officers, assistant horticulturists, metro agriculture officers, quarantine entomologists, field officers and sample collection officers.

The Establishment Ministry sources said the Government had circulated a gazette notification to upgrade the scales of 14 categories of BCS cadre from seven scales to six scales to reduce discrimination among the public service cadres under the Services (reorganisation and conditions) Act, 1975 under article-5.

At that time, 548 BCS cadres (administration) got promotion after the Government decision. But, the 285 BCS (agriculture) cadres were deprived of promotion.

Sources in DAE said, a total of 285 posts of the six grade and 700 posts of the seven grade in DEA under BCS (agriculture) are now vacant. Agriculture development has suffered a setback because of the shortage of manpower at the field level, sources added.

Steps were taken by the three ministries in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001 for the promotion of the officers, but finally it was kept in abeyance.

In February 2002, the Establishment Ministry had formed a 'Fact Finding Committee' to upgrade the post of the agriculture cadres from seventh grade to sixth grade. Later, it constituted a high-powered committee led by additional secretary of the Establishment Ministry to review the fact finding committee report.

Besides, in November 2004, organisation and management unit of the Establishment Ministry said it has objection to upgrade the 285 posts of the BCS agriculture cadres from seven grade scales to six grade scales.

On the other hand, DAE urged the concerned ministry last year to take necessary steps to promote its officials from seven grade scales to six grade scales.

Talking to the New Nation, a senior official of DAE said, "We have been discharging our duty with sincerity at the filed level, but the Government hasn't recognised our contribution."

Another official of DAE said one of his friends in the administrative cadre got promotion twice since joining the service though they were appointed at the same time.

Several BCS cadres (Agriculture) told the New Nation that after completing all the necessary procedures, they are yet to get promotion following the indecision of the concerned ministry.

Agriculture Adviser CS Karim told the New Nation that he knew nothing about the matter.