Contractual appointments in bureaucracy spark debates 

The two-year contractual appointments of Cabinet Secretary Dr. Nasimul Gani and Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Md. Ehsanul Haque are set to expire on August 16, prompting widespread discussion within the administration over whether the government will extend their contracts or appoint new officials through promotion from the regular civil service.

The debate comes amid growing criticism over the increasing reliance on contractual appointments in top government positions, with many career bureaucrats arguing that the practice limits promotion opportunities for serving officers.

Officials familiar with the matter said the government's priority is not whether appointments are made on a contractual basis or through promotion, but rather selecting competent, experienced and trustworthy individuals for key policymaking positions.

Public administration experts also believe that rebuilding an efficient bureaucracy remains crucial as the administration has yet to fully recover from the institutional disruption following the mass uprising that toppled the Awami League government in 2024.

At present, 22 senior secretary-, secretary- and secretary-equivalent officials are serving on contractual appointments across the government. In addition, the Ministry of Public Administration recently appointed officials on one-year contracts to 12 Grade-2 positions, including the post of Additional Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat.

The latest appointments cover several key state-owned organizations, including BOESL, BSCIC, BIWTC, Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation, Bangladesh Handloom Board, Bangladesh Jute Corporation, Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation and the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust. The appointments have sparked political debate, with critics alleging that many of those selected have links to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Following the student-led mass uprising, the interim government on August 17, 2024, brought back five retired additional secretaries on two-year contracts as secretaries. Among them were Dr. Nasimul Gani and Md. Ehsanul Haque, who were promoted to senior secretary rank the following day before being assigned to different ministries.

Dr. Gani initially served as Senior Secretary of the Public Division under the President's Office before being appointed Bangladesh's 26th Cabinet Secretary on February 16, 2026, after the contractual appointment of then Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid was cancelled at his own request.

A member of the 1982 administration cadre, Dr. Gani was made an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in 2009 and retired in 2013 after remaining without posting for four years. He later returned to government service under a contractual appointment.
Md. Ehsanul Haque, meanwhile, was transferred from the Road Transport and Highways Division to the Ministry of Public Administration as Senior Secretary on October 12, 2025.

Sources said the government still has confidence in Dr. Gani, making an extension of his contract a possibility. However, questions have been raised within and outside the bureaucracy regarding his administrative leadership and several recent appointments made during his tenure.

Prime Minister's Principal Secretary A.B.M. Abdus Sattar is also being discussed as a possible candidate for Cabinet Secretary. Another name under consideration is A.S.M. Saleh Ahmed, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Land and former Personal Secretary to late BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. However, Saleh Ahmed is also serving under a contractual appointment, which expires on October 1.

Ultimately, officials said, the final decision rests with the Prime Minister.

In contrast, sources indicated that Md. Ehsanul Haque is unlikely to receive another contract as Public Administration Secretary due to health concerns. Health Services Division Secretary Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury has emerged as a potential successor.

Many career civil servants have expressed dissatisfaction over the growing number of contractual appointments, arguing that the practice blocks their path to promotion. They believe key positions, including Cabinet Secretary and Public Administration Secretary, should be filled through promotion from among serving officers.

However, a policy-level government source said the administration has opted for contractual appointments because it has yet to develop sufficient confidence in many sectors of the bureaucracy. According to the source, the government has generally limited new contractual appointments to one year, with extensions depending on performance.

Former Secretary and public administration expert A.K.M. Abdul Awal Majumder said the most important consideration should be competence rather than the mode of appointment.

"Whether someone comes from the regular civil service or through a contractual appointment is not the key issue. The government must appoint individuals who are competent, experienced, honest and capable," he said.

Majumder said years of factionalism, political polarization, smear campaigns and controversy surrounding appointments have weakened the bureaucracy, making it essential to select credible officials beyond political considerations.

Explaining the rise in contractual appointments, he said many experienced officers were sidelined over the past 15 years due to alleged political affiliations, forcing the current government to bring some of them back into service.

He also noted that contractual appointments to the post of Cabinet Secretary are not unprecedented. Former Cabinet Secretaries Shafiul Azam, Abdul Momen Khan and A.S.M. Abdul Halim all served under contractual arrangements. While appointing the senior-most serving officer was once the established convention, he said, governments have always retained the authority to appoint someone on contract if circumstances required.

Contacted for comment, State Minister for Public Administration Md. Abdul Bari declined to make any remarks on the issue.