Suspended BCS cadre officials demand withdrawal of ‘unjust dismissal order’

The Inter-Cadre Discrimination Elimination Council has alleged that BCS cadre officials are being suspended in large numbers due to their opinions expressed on social media.

The officials have threatened to go on strike if the ‘unjust dismissal order’ is not withdrawn.

Coordinator of the council Md Shawkat Hossain Mollah made the warning at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Saturday (February 8).

In a written statement, Shawkat Hossain Molla said, “The Administration Cadre Association recently held a rally in Dhaka and gave an ultimatum to the Public Administration Reform Commission. At that time, they made various insults towards members of other cadres, triggering exchange of statements and counter-statements on social media between the administration cadre and members of 25 cadres included in the Inter-Cadre Discrimination Elimination Council.”

Stating that BCS cadre officers working in departments and organisations under various ministries are being suspended in large numbers for expressing their opinions on social media, he said, “Suspending BCS cadre officials on a small pretext without any show-cause notice is highly undesirable. Suspending from service without giving an opportunity to defend oneself is against fundamental rights and service rules. The people against whom such measures have been taken are very skilled and talented officers in their respective fields. Council members are angry at being dismissed without being given a chance to defend themselves.”

On the other hand, although there are similar charges against the administration cadre, the Ministry of Public Administration has not taken any such action, he added.

Shawkat Hossain Molla said, "If suspension of officials continues like this, there will be extreme dissatisfaction in the civil service, which may embarrass the government. In this situation, we request the authorities concerned to withdraw the suspension orders already issued by various ministries and release the BCS cadre officials from the charges.”