BTRC Commission Meeting Delayed Twice Amid Promotion Controversy

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has witnessed a rare episode in its institutional history, as a policy-level commission meeting has been repeatedly deferred—not over spectrum allocation or strategic decisions, but over what insiders are calling a “promotion puzzle.” The 303rd Commission Meeting of the BTRC has been postponed twice amid controversy surrounding the promotion of disputed officials. A new date for the meeting has now been fixed for January 29.

Allegations have surfaced that the delays and the unusual urgency are aimed at ensuring the promotion of officials whose appointments have been flagged by audit objections and named in a government white paper as “illegally recruited.”

Behind the Postponement of the Commission Meeting

According to sources, a Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meeting was held on January 25 at the BTRC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka. Although a policy-level decision was reportedly taken not to promote officials with controversial or illegal appointments, the list of eligible candidates for promotion was mysteriously not announced.

The following day, January 26, another meeting was convened to discuss postings of junior officials, but that meeting was also suspended without finalising the earlier decisions. Sources claim that January 29 was strategically chosen as the new date to finalise the promotions of the accused officials before a new government takes office following the national parliamentary election scheduled for February 12.

Discussions with several aggrieved officials and representatives present at the DPC meeting reveal growing concern that, much like past commissions, the current commission under the leadership of Chairman Md. Emdad Ul Bari has once again become embroiled in controversy over recruitment and postings.

The meeting was attended by the BTRC Chairman, Vice Chairman, Commissioners, and committee Member Secretary and Director General (Administration) Md. Mehedi-ul-Shaheed. Representatives from outside the commission were also present, including Joint Secretary Md. Raihan Akhtar from the Ministry of Public Administration, Joint Secretary Mohammad Abul Hashem from the Ministry of Finance, and Joint Secretary Md. Mizanur Rahman from the Posts and Telecommunications Division. Discussions focused on filling vacant posts for officials from Grade 9 to Grade 4 currently serving at the BTRC.

This reporter spoke separately with Mohammad Abul Hashem of the Ministry of Finance, Md. Shafiul Alam, Joint Secretary of the Planning Wing of the Posts and Telecommunications Division and a committee member, and Joint Secretary Md. Mizanur Rahman, all of whom were present at the meeting. They confirmed that there was unanimous agreement not to grant promotions to officials facing audit objections. At the same time, recommendations were made to post officials against whom there were no allegations. It was also learned that a resolution to this effect was to be signed. However, attempts to contact the relevant BTRC department for comment were unsuccessful.

Disregard for the White Paper and Audit Objections

Investigations reveal that during the previous government’s tenure, 29 individuals were appointed as junior consultants in violation of existing rules and without any formal examination. Government audit reports and a white paper committee have described these appointments as “illegal” and “corrupt.” Despite repeated letters from the Posts and Telecommunications Division instructing corrective action, the current commission has taken no visible steps.

Instead, general employees allege that commission meeting dates are being repeatedly changed to facilitate the promotion of these officials, many of whom have remained under audit objections for the past seven years.

Promotion Complications and Regulatory Ambiguity

Although the BTRC Promotion Regulations of 2009 were never approved by the Ministry of Public Administration, promotions continued under those rules until 2022. Under the revised 2022 regulations, the post of Assistant Director was made promotable to Senior Assistant Director. However, ambiguities in the regulations and delays in finalising amendments have created opportunities for certain groups to exert influence.

Currently, out of BTRC’s 355 permanent employees, the recruitment of 153 remains under dispute, many of whom are now contenders for promotion.

Vacancies and Growing Discontent

BTRC sources say that several key positions are currently vacant, including four Director posts and six Deputy Director posts. Aggrieved and eligible officials complain that their rightful postings are being deliberately delayed to clear the way for unqualified candidates. Although six to seven positions remain vacant in Grades 11 to 20, employees in these grades have been deprived of promotion for years. A meeting on January 26 to address the issue was also deferred, pushing the matter to the January 28 meeting.

Representatives from the Ministry of Finance and the Posts and Telecommunications Division who attended the DPC meeting reiterated that they had agreed not to promote officials facing audit objections. However, due to what they described as the “overenthusiastic role” of certain senior commission officials, the list of eligible candidates was withheld and meetings were repeatedly postponed.

Amid these developments, resentment and dissatisfaction are mounting among BTRC’s general officials and employees. Stakeholders across the sector are now watching closely to see whether the January 29 commission meeting will adhere to legal regulations—or side with the controversial candidates.

DBTech/IH/EK/OR