Former Additional Secretary Mahbub Kabir Milan, who has been involved in various anti-irregularity and anti-corruption initiatives including banning black market of railway tickets, was suddenly made Officer on Special Duty (OSD) on August 6, 2020.

Although there was a lot of criticism about the matter, he was not returned to normal duties. Mahbub Kabir retired in December next year while still in OSD.

This former additional secretary said, I was not allowed to do any work for more than a year. At that time, I went to the office a few times. But there was no problem with the salary and bonus, I got it fine. I could have done a lot more work for the country and the people if that time had not been wasted. But I will regret not getting that opportunity for the rest of my life.

With retirement, Milan has finally been freed from OSD. But there are still many officials in the administration, who are living 'unemployed' lives.

On the one hand, talent and manpower are being wasted, and the government has to pay billions of rupees every year for the salaries of OSD officials.

What exactly is OSD?

Officials of the Ministry of Public Administration said that 'OSD' is a special type of posting in ledgers.

Its full form is 'Officer on Special Duty'.

According to experts, the provision of OSD was introduced in the then Indian Civil Service during the British rule, a practice which was in force even during the Pakistan period.

According to the past custom, in independent Bangladesh, government officials are also subject to OSD rules.

At present, there is a provision of OSD to the officers of the Ministry of Establishment or Public Administration of the country.

Apart from this, the rules for amalgamation in the case of other departments, agencies or ministries are in place, officials said.

Former bureaucrats say that OSD provisions were kept in public administration after the independence of the country due to administrative necessity.

Former Secretary Abu Alam. Shahid Khan said, as per the assumption, there is a special duty to be performed during natural or any other calamity. An officer on regular duty is then deputed as Officer on Special Duty or OSD.

The reasons why OSD

In addition to special duties, OSDs are also used for several other administrative purposes. One of these is going on long-term training or vacations.

If any of the officers while in service wants to take leave for more than three consecutive months for training, travel abroad for higher education, illness or medical reasons, he is kept as an officer on special charge.

Former Secretary Abu Alam. Shahid Khan said that it is necessary to do this so that their salary does not stop during training or vacation.

For the same reason, after promotion, an officer is kept on OSD until he is posted to his new post.

Besides, if any of the officers go to another department or institution on deputation or when an officer attached to another department is retired from there, it is necessary to do OSD, officials said.

Apart from this, there is a provision to keep the accused officer as OSD during the investigation of any allegation of irregularities-corruption or indiscipline against any of the officers.

Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat Secretary and Bangladesh Administrative Service Association (BASA) convener. Md. Anwar Ullah said, this is done as a preventive measure so that the accused official cannot continue the irregularities and corruption in his position.

Apart from this, the accused officer should not obstruct the investigation in any way by abusing the power, that is another purpose of making him OSD.

However, the government can OSD any officer beyond these if it wants.

Former Additional Secretary. Mahbub Kabir Milan said, in this case, there is no need to show any specific reason. It is often mentioned in the notification that it is done in public interest.

Current and former bureaucrats said that sometimes political motives work behind such OSD.

Political OSD

Experts say that there are precedents of OSD to government officials for political considerations in Bangladesh beyond administrative requirements.

Former Secretary Abu Alam. Shahid Khan said, especially in the last three decades, the rate at which the OSD has been unjustified due to political considerations is quite alarming.

The current and former bureaucrats believe that an incident in 1996 played a role in increasing the number of OSD due to political considerations.

After the BNP returned to state power through the controversial elections that year, Awami League led the 'People's Forum' in Dhaka to demand their resignation, in which government officials and employees also participated.

After that incident, the political identity of many officials came to the fore and many of them later became OSD during the BNP government. Similarly, after the formation of the Awami League government in 2009, many officials who were promoted during the BNP regime were made OSD.

Even recently Professor Dr. Even after the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus assumed power, many of the officials who were appointed during Sheikh Hasina's regime have also become OSD.

The senior secretaries of several ministries including public administration, shipping were also seen in that list of OSD.

In some cases, even in the face of agitations and protests, some previous officials have been removed from their duties.

On the other hand, during the political government, some have become OSD while working according to the rules without listening to the ministers-MPs, there are also complaints.

What do OSD officers do?

Former officials say that most of the OSD officers do not have to carry any burden at all despite having 'special charge' at the end of their name.

Former Secretary Abu Alam. Shahid Khan said, those who are OSD outside of special duties during training, vacation and crisis, do not have any work. Sitting and enjoying salary.

However, even if there is no work, the officials have to go to the office and the secretariat regularly.

BASA convener and secretary. Md. Anwar Ullah said that there is no room or chair-table allocated for them due to lack of responsibility. As a result they have to sit in the library and sign the attendance book kept there.

Although there is a rule of attendance in notebooks, it is known that most of the high-ranking officials do not follow it.

Former Additional Secretary. Mahbub Kabir Milan said, when there is an OSD, usually no official of the rank of joint secretary or above does so. Why do they go? Where to sit?

A waste of talent and money

Even if the officers do not do any work after the OSD, the salary and allowances are not withheld. Officials said that according to the post, they enjoy all the benefits including salary and bonus, car and house.

Former Secretary Abu Alam. Shahid Khan said that giving salaries and bonuses to government officials without using them is nothing but a waste of people's tax money.

According to the report of the Ministry of Public Administration submitted to the High Court in 2013, the number of OSD officers in the previous nine years was about 3,600.

In those nine years, the government spent about 151 crores for their salaries and other facilities.

Among them, a police officer named Munir Hossain was sent to compulsory retirement in 2022 after being in OSD for almost 11 years, which is an unprecedented incident in the history of the country, officials said.

The government is also acknowledging the waste of talent as well as state money by keeping officials unemployed by doing OSD.

Ali Imam Mazumder, adviser to the interim government attached to the office of the chief adviser, said, there is no way to deny it. The issue is on our mind and thinking is going on how to add OSD officers to other government jobs.