Frustration grips local admin as AL men call shots
Sense of insecurity has taken hold of local administrations due to 'undue pressure from ruling party activists' in almost every district and the government's apparent indifference to their concerns as well, officials have said.
Many deputy commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers have already expressed their worries to the higher authorities but no effective steps have been initiated to stop interference of the leaders of Awami League and its associate bodies in the function of local administrations.
Many deputy commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers have already expressed their worries to the higher authorities but no effective steps have been initiated to stop interference of the leaders of Awami League and its associate bodies in the function of local administrations.
'Fear and uncertainty have gripped the local administrations because of the government's indifference to threats and intimidation of the field officials who are unwilling to give in to the pressure from the ruling party men, especially in recruitment and tender process,' said a senior official at the establishment ministry.
He said many officials had requested the ministry for their withdrawal from the field as they could not work with dignity in the present situation.
He said many officials had requested the ministry for their withdrawal from the field as they could not work with dignity in the present situation.
Conflict between lawmakers and upazila chairmen has crippled local administration in many areas where government officials find themselves helpless, said a number of UNOs.
On Monday, five officials of the Savar upazila filed general diaries with the local police, seeking security after they had received death threats allegedly from local leaders of the ruling party.
The Pabna deputy commissioner, AFM Monjur Kadir, who raised his voice against the attacks on the public servants at the DC office, was withdrawn and made an officer on special duty at the establishment ministry on Tuesday. The Pabna police superintendent was also closed on the day.
The Pabna deputy commissioner, AFM Monjur Kadir, who raised his voice against the attacks on the public servants at the DC office, was withdrawn and made an officer on special duty at the establishment ministry on Tuesday. The Pabna police superintendent was also closed on the day.
The establishment ministry is going to initiate departmental proceedings against the Pabna deputy commissioner, said another deputy commissioner, who expressed deep concern over the Pabna incident which had created indignation in the civil bureaucracy.
'I have talked to a number of deputy commissioners over the matter. All are very frustrated by the government's attitude in the present situation,' he said.
'I have talked to a number of deputy commissioners over the matter. All are very frustrated by the government's attitude in the present situation,' he said.
The deputy commissioner of Pabna and other officials of the field administration on September 23 expressed their helplessness at a meeting with the civil society members after the attack by pro-government activists, prompting the prime minister's adviser on administrative affairs HT Imam and state minister for home Shamsul Haque to visit Pabna 10 days after the incident.
Activists of the ruling Awami League on September 17 went on a rampage forcing the administration to postpone the recruitment examination for appointing some employees in the deputy commissioner's office in Pabna.
Local activists of the AL and its associate bodies damaged vehicles of the administration and assaulted officials and staff.
They also set fire to answer scripts and admit cards and allegedly snatched away mobile sets, wristwatches and money from the examinees.
Local activists of the AL and its associate bodies damaged vehicles of the administration and assaulted officials and staff.
They also set fire to answer scripts and admit cards and allegedly snatched away mobile sets, wristwatches and money from the examinees.
Talking to reporters on Monday over the matter, HT Imam, a career bureaucrat-turned politician, flatly denied involvement of the ruling party in foiling the test for recruitment of lower grade employees in Pabna.
Imam said, 'Juba League and Chhatra League are not the associate organisations of Awami League.'
Imam said, 'Juba League and Chhatra League are not the associate organisations of Awami League.'
The adviser and the state minister for home had a meeting behind closed doors with all sections of Pabna district officials and asked them to work in keeping with the service rules. The officials were warned of departmental proceedings in case of violation of the service rules, said an official.
Imam said the officers had informed the meeting that the situation had been highly exaggerated by the media.
Imam said the officers had informed the meeting that the situation had been highly exaggerated by the media.
In reply to a query, he claimed that there was no resentment or insecurity in the administration.
A Pabna court on Sunday sent 21 Juba League and Chhatra League leaders and activists to jail after their surrender in connection with two cases filed for halting recruitment test of government employees.
Appointments to thousands of posts under various authorities, including civil surgeon's offices, have been suspended in last 18 months of the Awami League government either for irregularities or interference by the pro-government activists.
A Pabna court on Sunday sent 21 Juba League and Chhatra League leaders and activists to jail after their surrender in connection with two cases filed for halting recruitment test of government employees.
Appointments to thousands of posts under various authorities, including civil surgeon's offices, have been suspended in last 18 months of the Awami League government either for irregularities or interference by the pro-government activists.
The Jessore and Panchagar civil surgeon's offices recently postponed appointments of around 100 employees following attacks by the pro-government activists.
Activists of Chhatra League in February this year attacked and injured the assistant commissioner (land) of Kachua upazila in Chandpur after he reportedly tried to prevent them from building structure on government land.
The BCL men also ransacked files, papers and a computer during the attack on AC (land) Md Mostafizur Rahman at his office.
Activists of Chhatra League in February this year attacked and injured the assistant commissioner (land) of Kachua upazila in Chandpur after he reportedly tried to prevent them from building structure on government land.
The BCL men also ransacked files, papers and a computer during the attack on AC (land) Md Mostafizur Rahman at his office.
'Many upazila nirbahi officers, who represent the government at the grassroots, have already contacted the establishment secretary asking for their withdrawal from the field citing the conflicts between the local administrations and upazila chairmen,' said an official at the establishment ministry.
He said that most of the officers on the list for posting as upazila nirbahi officers were unwilling to go to the field in the present situation.
He said that most of the officers on the list for posting as upazila nirbahi officers were unwilling to go to the field in the present situation.
Talking to New Age, some bureaucrats including a former cabinet secretary, said that frustration would grip the field officials in general if the government failed to ensure their security.
Former adviser to the caretaker government, Akbar Ali Khan, also retired cabinet secretary, said the government's interest could not be protected if the interests of its officials and their honour remained unprotected.
Former adviser to the caretaker government, Akbar Ali Khan, also retired cabinet secretary, said the government's interest could not be protected if the interests of its officials and their honour remained unprotected.
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