Petrobangla, the state-run oil, gas and mineral corporation, has created controversy over the recent promotion to its five Class-3 employees to Class-I post (assistant manager).
It is alleged that Petrobangla has given the promotion taking advantage of 'ambiguity' in its regulations. There is, however, no direct violation of Petrobangla's promotion criteria and policy-2016,
Sources at the office of the General Manager (Establishment) of the autonomous body, said appointment and promotion are conducted as per the Petrobangla Employment Regulations 1988 and Petrobangla Promotion Standards and Policies 2016.
According to the Petrobangla Employment Regulations 1988, 14(1), minimum service period of 12 years in Grade 13 will be eligible for promotion to assistant manager (Grade 9).
The ministry concerned abolished the grade 10 post at the state-run corporation in 2008 as per the Petrobangla’s organisational structure, which created an opportunity to promote a Class-3 employee to first class officer.
Although Article 14(2) stipulates “No person can claim promotion as a right on the basis of seniority alone” and Article 14(4) states that “Promotion shall be based on merit and seniority”.
General Manager (Establishment) office has confirmed that the 13th grade office assistant Khandkar Sabiun Nahar, Procurement Assistant Md. Salim, typist Md. Abu Taher Talukdar and Store Assistant Begum Ayesha Akhtar Khatun and Security Assistant Md. Ghiyasuddin has been promoted to Assistant Manager (Grade 9) (Administration).
The above mentioned employees were appointed under 16th grade (last grade of Class-3). They were first promoted to 13th grade from the 16th grade.
According to Petrobangla’s office order, these five employees who have been promoted to Grade 9 will get basic salary of Tk 22,000 and their gross salary will stand at Tk 53,060 with house rent included. When contacted with the establishment department of Petrobangla to inquire about whether the five employees were promoted on merit basis, they could not provide any information.
In this regard, General Manager of Establishment Department Shaheen Akhter said, “According to Petrobangla’s regulations, the
promotion has been given after evaluating their 12 years’ ACR.”
In reply a question as to whether their promotion was made on merit basis, she said the matter was raised at the Junior Selection Committee. In another question if the promotion was given pressure, she said, “It is not true”.
To get detailed information about this matter, Shaheen Akhter told this correspondent to contact Abdus Salam, Deputy General Manager of the Establishment Department.
When contacted, Abdus Salam said, “I will not say that all of the five people who have been promoted are graduates. All excepting one have completed their graduation,” he added.
This correspondent went to his ‘Abdus Salam’ office room, but he could not provide any official document regarding all these information about five employees. He said the related papers are in the administration section. Going to that section, this correspondent found that the papers are now in the office of the Electricity and Energy Advisor.
Abdus Salam also did not clarify on which basis the five employees have been given promotion.
After the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5 and the formation of interim government led Dr. Muhammad Yunus on August 8, the officials and employees of different government institutions have been demanding promotion claiming that they have been victim of discrimination. Many are reportedly forcing the head of the organisation to sign the promotion letter.
Amid this situation happening after the fall of the Awami League government, a general manager of Petrobangla has claimed that such an incident also happened in Petrobangla.
He said, “This promotion has not been done in accordance with Petrobangla’s employment rules. It has taken place by force. There is no chance to join the post of office assistant through promotion like this. We do not understand how it happened. This is a bad example.”
On the other hand, Deputy General Manager (Public Relations) Tariqul Islam Khan gave an informal letter to this correspondent where nine points on promotion were mentioned. However, the letter did not mention the basis on which the five employees were promoted.
Rather, he (Tariqul Islam) mentioned the provision of seniority in the regulations regarding promotion, but he did not provide any information about in Article 14(2) which states that promotion should be done on the basis of merit.
A top official of the public relations department said that permission of the Petrobanga chairman is required to give an official statement on the promotion of the five employees.
When this correspondent tried to contact Petrobangla Chairman Janendra Nath over phone for his comments in this regard, he did not receive the call.
While visiting the Petrobangla office, the company’s general manager (establishment) Shaheen Akhter informed that chairman’s health condition is not good enough to talk to anybody.
While visiting the Petrobangla office to collect information, Shaheen Akhtar requested this correspondent to wait in the room of Deputy General Manager Abdus Salam, saying “I are going to offer prayers.”
At that time, 10 to 12 CBA leaders including CBA organising secretary and account assistant Ariful Haque and joint general secretary Tariqul Islam came and said this promotion is legal. Publishing such news, journalists are doing ‘Yellow Journalism’. When asked as to whether the promotion was given on the basis of merit, the CBA leaders did not provide any documents and said, “We are being deprived of many things.”
CBA Organising Secretary Ariful Haque said that there is frustration among Petrobangla officials and employees as they are the victims of discrimination. “A draft amendment has been sent to the ministry concerned on November 27, 2023 to amend the Petrobangla’s employment regulations in view of our demands,” he added.
