A serious allegation is revealed allegation against a government official who was promoted by the Education Ministry allegedly without verifying his Annual Confidential Report (ACR).
The BCS cadre service officer was identified as Associate Professor Mohammad Houmayoon Kabir, who joined the civil service through the 24th BCS (General Education).
The Secondary and Higher Education Division under the Ministry of Education on September 27 promoted Houmayoon Kabir to the post of Associate Professor along with other officers.
Houmayoon Kabir, an assistant professor of Noakhali Government Mohila College was promoted to the post Associate Professor, the second highest rank of the education cadre service in Bangladesh.
He is now working as the associate professor in the Department of English at the Noakhali Government College.
Talking to the Bangladesh Post, Professor Aktari Begum, former the principal of the Noakhali Government Mohila College, also admitted that her former colleague was promoted without obtaining ACR from her, though she was his supervising officer.
Denying the allegations, Houmayoon Kabir said, “These are all conspiracies against me. Submitting ACR is not my responsibility, it’s the duty of the vice-principal and the principal.”
I submitted my ACR form to the then Vice-principal. I don’t know if she forwarded the ACR to the principal, he claimed.
As per government rules, checking ACR is a must for awarding any promotion.
Ministry sources said Professor Aktari Begum joined as the principal of the Noakhali Government Mohila College on December 31 in 2015. She discharged her duties as principal of the reputed educational institution till July 6 of 2021.
Houmayoon Kabir also joined as Assistant Professor in the Department of English of the same college on December 31 in 2015. He worked there till March 1,2020.
During the five years of his work under Professor Aktari Begum, he (Houmayoon Kabir) did not submit the ACR of year 2018 and 2019 to his boss for forwarding to the concerned department with her given marks on the ACR of Houmayoon Kabir, a document reveals.
Talking to the Bangladesh Post Professor Aktari Begum also admitted it.
She said, “I several times noticed Houmayoon Kabir to submit his ACR to me. But he did not do so for the year 2018 and 2019.”
Responding to another question, the former principal of the Noakhali Government Mohila College said, “Later I brought the matter to the Director (College and Administration) of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education. But he did not take any step in this regard.”
She alleged that, the Director of the DSHE remained silent about it for reasons not known to her.
Professor Aktari Begum further claimed that she informed Mohammmad Shafiullah of the ACR section of the Education Ministry verbally.
“I don’t know whether any initiative was taken regarding the issue”, she said.
It was also alleged that Houmayoon Kabir submitted his ACR in 2015 using fake signature of Ekramul Haque, the then principal of the Noakhali Government Mohila College.
“I think it is completely objectionable and embarrassing for administration if a BCS cadre service official is given promotion without checking the ACR of three years,” Professor Aktari Begum opined .
About the allegation against associate professor Houmayoon Kabir , Education Officer Shariful Islam, who works with the ACR related issue of the Education Ministry, said, “ There is no rule of giving promotion without the ACR.”
He however said in some cases when the officer is on maternity leave, on study leave, on lien etc , ACR is not required for promotion.
If anyone does not submit ACR, or hides his or her ACR, his or her promotion is not legal, the Education Ministry official told this correspondent.
Responding to another question, Shariful said, “A officer must take ACR only from his or her supervising officer. There is no alternative of the rule.”
Mukesh Chandra Biswas, Joint Secretary (Discipline) of Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education said, “ I was not involved in the process of the promotion.”
“If any such allegation comes to me, I shall investigate and take necessary step,” he assured.
Professor Md. Shahedul Khabir Chowdhury, Director of DSHE (College and Administration Wing) said, “There is no reason to give promotion without ACR. There is a committee in the Ministry to verify the ACR. On the basis of verification, a list is prepared. Later the committee takes decision.”
About the allegation made against him (Md. Shahedul Khabir Chowdhury) of not taking any measure despite he was informed that Houmayoon Kabir did not submit ACR, he said, “From my side, there is no scope to skip it.”
He, however, admitted that DSHE looks after the ACR.
Bangladesh Post correspondent several times tried to contact the Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, Suleman Khan, Secretary of Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education, and Professor Nehal Ahmed, Director General of DSHE, for their comments over the serious allegation regarding the controversial promotion of Associate Professor Houmayoon Kabir.
This correspondent also sent SMS to their WhatsApp numbers. But they did not respond till filing the report on March 10.