Govt identifying officials who worked to prolong fascist regime: State Minister

State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari on Tuesday told the National Parliament that the government is identifying the officials who had worked in the administration to lengthen the previous ‘fascist regime’.

“Different investigative agencies of the government are working to identify those who openly worked in the administration to prolong the fascist government during the previous fascist regime,” he said.

The state minister made the remarks while responding to a question from opposition Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Anwarul Islam (Kurigram-1) during the question-answer session in the House.

Tuesday's session began at around 3pm with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad in the chair.

In reply to a question from ruling party lawmaker Salimuzzaman Mollah (Gopalganj-1), the state minister said a total of 14,64,350 officials and employees were serving in the government jobs across the country as of June 30, 2025, while 521,922 posts remained vacant.

According to information placed before Parliament by the minister, there are currently 67 officers against 69 secretary and senior secretary posts, 378 officers against 368 additional secretary posts, 893 officers against 1,116 joint secretary posts, and 2,940 officers against 2,245 deputy secretary posts.

Responding to a question from Jamaat lawmaker Sabikun Nahar (Women Seat-39), the state minister said the time required to complete Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) recruitment recommendations has been gradually reduced.

He said the final results of the 47th BCS examination were published within one year and seven months of the recruitment circular, while the 46th BCS results were announced within two years, two months and nine days, the 45th BCS within two years, 11 months and 27 days, and the 44th BCS within three years and seven months.

The government plans to publish the final results of the 50th BCS examination within one year of issuing the recruitment circular, he added.

Abdul Bari said promotions in government service are a continuous process and are awarded to competent and qualified officers in due course after considering their overall performance.

According to the latest government manpower data up to 2025, women now account for 29 percent of government officials and employees, he informed the House.

Answering a question from ruling party lawmaker Rafiqul Islam Hilaly (Netrokona-3), the state minister said the government is implementing a policy of ensuring that recruitment, transfers and postings in the public administration remain free from political or undue influence, with merit, integrity and competence serving as the sole criteria.