Election commissioner: Promotion spree ahead of polls

With the 11th parliamentary election less than three months away, a number of new promotions are happening in different ministries of the government, as well as the Election Commission, Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder said on Thursday.

“People are getting promoted ahead of the election. I have seen in newspapers that promotions are happening in public administration and police, and employees of such organizations are asking for promotions. It is happening in the Election Commission as well,” he told reporters at his Election Commission office in Agargaon, Dhaka.

Such rise in promotions is usual before elections, he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mahbub chaired a meeting on appointment, promotion, administrative reform and readjustment, and capacity development, where the promotion of 75 Election Commission officials was proposed, to be effective upon the commission’s approval.

The election commissioner further said some new posts would be created for the commission.

“The manpower will rise by about 2,000 ahead of the polls. The commission currently has 3,000 employees, but not all of them are officers. Among them, 517 will be appointed as upazila assistant election officers,” he added.

Once appointed, the working capacity of the Election Commission will increase, but it will still not be enough, the election commissioner said.