Human chain demands end to discrimination

Following the fall of the autocratic government through the anti-discrimination movement, a new opportunity has arisen under the interim government’s leadership to rebuild a discrimination-free state structure.

In this context, all levels of officials, employees, in-house artists, and technicians of Bangladesh Betar organised a human chain today, 19 August at 11am in front of the main gate of Bangladesh Betar, Agargaon, Dhaka, demanding the elimination of various discriminations, including promotion deprivation.

The human chain saw the participation of officials, employees, in-house artists, and technicians from all levels of Bangladesh Betar, who expressed their demands through various banners and placards. The demands of Bangladesh Betar’s officials and employees to be proud partners in the journey towards a discrimination-free new Bangladesh are as follows:

1.  End promotion deprivation of Bangladesh Betar officials.

2.  Ensure promotion to the position of Deputy Secretary based on merit, including batch-based promotions.

3.  Implement the unified BCS (Information) cadre.

4.  Appoint a Director General from within Bangladesh Betar.

5.  Revoke the proposed recruitment rules for non-cadre officers and employees and revise them accordingly.

6.  Establish and ensure the promotion of permanent positions for in-house artists of Bangladesh Betar.

It is worth noting that the 9^th, 13^th, and 15^th BCS officials of Bangladesh Betar are still in the 4^th grade. Additionally, most of the officials of the 24^th to 27^th BCS are in the 6^th grade, with most of them being deprived of promotion for over 14 years. Similarly, most of the officials of the 28^th to 35^th BCS in the 9^th grade have been deprived of promotion for about 8 to 14 years.

The BCS Information cadre consists of four sub-cadres. While 10 applications are accepted annually against 136 base posts from the sub-cadre of Mass Communication/PIB for the position of Deputy Secretary, in a glaring example of discrimination, only 10 applications are accepted unreasonably against 323 base posts from the remaining three sub-cadres of the BCS Information cadre of Bangladesh Betar.

As a national media outlet, Bangladesh Betar’s role in meeting the challenge of rebuilding the state through the anti-discrimination movement is undeniable. If the ongoing discrimination within Bangladesh Betar is eliminated, and the morale of the officials and employees is boosted, Bangladesh Betar can play a crucial role in realizing the primary goal of the anti-discrimination movement.

Those present at the human chain expressed hope that the current interim government would fulfill the just demands of Bangladesh Betar’s officials and employees as soon as possible.