Of retirement, retirees and the civil service
Friday, 29 April 2011
Shamsher Chowdury
A news report in a national English daily has attracted our attention. Apparently the gentleman in question is the Additional Director General (ADG) in the Department of Environment (DOE) who even after his retirement continues working in the same post over one year past his retirement date. When asked the state minister of the concerned ministry came up with a statement that the ADG's case for extension of service was pending for a decision with the concerned department although he says in the same breath that the incumbent could not continue with the position without an official notice of extension being endorsed by the concerned authority. God knows whatever does that mean. In the meantime, when asked, the ADG had said that he was a freedom fighter and that he has a right to continue to work. We do not know what to make of it. It appears as though something is wrong somewhere. It looks like the ADG has some powerful entities behind him. Be that as it may, we strongly feel that incidence like this sends wrong signal to the entire civil service. Let us face it, as far as we can see, civil servants are not amongst the most popular of our management tools though they happen to be the most important one. Needless to say, that it also reflects badly on the administration of the ruling party. One might argue that it is an isolated incident but it also has an impact on other related issues like the case of the Nobel Laureate which has now become not only a national issue but also one that has spread its wings to many parts of the world. It is our understanding that the main issue in Yunus case is also linked to his retirementremoval from the position of Managing Director of the Grameen Bank since he was past the specified age limit set for the position. Frankly here it puts the administration into bad light particularly when the enquiry committee has now confirmed it has not found traces of any wrong-doing in the overall operation of the Grameen Bank (GB) including with funds provided by NORAD. One wonders as to when shall we learn to think rationally and act rising above self. With due respect to all concerned, we must also have the will and the commitment to deal with management interventions in an even-handed manner. While we are on the subject, let us also look at this other popular instrument often used in regulating the civil servants -- relocating officials as Officers on Special Duty (OSDs). We all know as to who is an OSD and why. The truth of it all is that one is usually made an OSD purely on the basis that he or she is no longer in the good books of the administration of the ruling party of the time. An OSD is usually transferred from his ongoing post of duty and placed at the disposal of yet another ministry or a department. While OSD stands for Officer on Special Duty, in reality it stands for officer with no duty. However to be truthful, some are also made OSDs prior to their appointment and placement in more regular positions. Yet it is a saw that cuts in ten different ways. Irrespective of whatever is the objective and the final outcome, surely there are better ways of dealing with our civil servants. This business of the review committee for reinstating officers and officials who allegedly were victims of injustice during the previous regime is often anomalous and misleading. Once reinstated, these officers and officials become loyalists of the ruling party more than anything else. The administration should seriously review this on-going tradition of placing the services of senior army officials, both retired and serving, in key management positions of large autonomous bodies and corporations. Surely we do have competent people in the civil sector. However, on a selective basis, retirees with specialised expertise could be considered for employment on a purely fixed term basis. Over the years our civil services have been considerably weakened. Even at senior levels we often come across poor performances particularly when they are representing the country in international forums, bilateral talks on such issues like business and commerce and drawing up of bilateral agreements so on and so forth. If the ruling party is to have any success in its administrative interventions, it should seriously consider strengthening the professional capacity of our civil services rather than weakening the same. Our civil servants need to be exposed to better training both within and outside the country. They should also be provided study leave opportunities under government sponsorship. Above all, government must also ensure that they are allowed to function independently, without undue interference of the ruling party operatives and without fear and favor. Needless to say in this endeavour the bureaucrats too have to come forward with open minds with the spirit of cooperation. But as in all administrations the government has to take the major imitative. The writer can be reached at e-mail: chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com
A news report in a national English daily has attracted our attention. Apparently the gentleman in question is the Additional Director General (ADG) in the Department of Environment (DOE) who even after his retirement continues working in the same post over one year past his retirement date. When asked the state minister of the concerned ministry came up with a statement that the ADG's case for extension of service was pending for a decision with the concerned department although he says in the same breath that the incumbent could not continue with the position without an official notice of extension being endorsed by the concerned authority. God knows whatever does that mean. In the meantime, when asked, the ADG had said that he was a freedom fighter and that he has a right to continue to work. We do not know what to make of it. It appears as though something is wrong somewhere. It looks like the ADG has some powerful entities behind him. Be that as it may, we strongly feel that incidence like this sends wrong signal to the entire civil service. Let us face it, as far as we can see, civil servants are not amongst the most popular of our management tools though they happen to be the most important one. Needless to say, that it also reflects badly on the administration of the ruling party. One might argue that it is an isolated incident but it also has an impact on other related issues like the case of the Nobel Laureate which has now become not only a national issue but also one that has spread its wings to many parts of the world. It is our understanding that the main issue in Yunus case is also linked to his retirementremoval from the position of Managing Director of the Grameen Bank since he was past the specified age limit set for the position. Frankly here it puts the administration into bad light particularly when the enquiry committee has now confirmed it has not found traces of any wrong-doing in the overall operation of the Grameen Bank (GB) including with funds provided by NORAD. One wonders as to when shall we learn to think rationally and act rising above self. With due respect to all concerned, we must also have the will and the commitment to deal with management interventions in an even-handed manner. While we are on the subject, let us also look at this other popular instrument often used in regulating the civil servants -- relocating officials as Officers on Special Duty (OSDs). We all know as to who is an OSD and why. The truth of it all is that one is usually made an OSD purely on the basis that he or she is no longer in the good books of the administration of the ruling party of the time. An OSD is usually transferred from his ongoing post of duty and placed at the disposal of yet another ministry or a department. While OSD stands for Officer on Special Duty, in reality it stands for officer with no duty. However to be truthful, some are also made OSDs prior to their appointment and placement in more regular positions. Yet it is a saw that cuts in ten different ways. Irrespective of whatever is the objective and the final outcome, surely there are better ways of dealing with our civil servants. This business of the review committee for reinstating officers and officials who allegedly were victims of injustice during the previous regime is often anomalous and misleading. Once reinstated, these officers and officials become loyalists of the ruling party more than anything else. The administration should seriously review this on-going tradition of placing the services of senior army officials, both retired and serving, in key management positions of large autonomous bodies and corporations. Surely we do have competent people in the civil sector. However, on a selective basis, retirees with specialised expertise could be considered for employment on a purely fixed term basis. Over the years our civil services have been considerably weakened. Even at senior levels we often come across poor performances particularly when they are representing the country in international forums, bilateral talks on such issues like business and commerce and drawing up of bilateral agreements so on and so forth. If the ruling party is to have any success in its administrative interventions, it should seriously consider strengthening the professional capacity of our civil services rather than weakening the same. Our civil servants need to be exposed to better training both within and outside the country. They should also be provided study leave opportunities under government sponsorship. Above all, government must also ensure that they are allowed to function independently, without undue interference of the ruling party operatives and without fear and favor. Needless to say in this endeavour the bureaucrats too have to come forward with open minds with the spirit of cooperation. But as in all administrations the government has to take the major imitative. The writer can be reached at e-mail: chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com