Some Education Cadre Officials Have Spent Over a Decade at NAEM

At least 13 officials of the BCS General Education Cadre have allegedly remained posted at the National Academy for Educational Management (NAEM) for years, with some serving at the academy for more than a decade despite a policy limiting postings at the same organisation to three consecutive years.

Mohammad Jahangir Kabir, an assistant director for Training and Implementation at NAEM, joined the academy’s Dhaka office on December 19, 2010. Fifteen years later, he remains at the same institution. Asked how he had stayed at NAEM for so long, Jahangir Kabir declined to comment and referred The Daily Campus to NAEM Director General Professor Dr Wasim Md Mejbahul Haque before ending the call.

Sabihah Yasmin, an associate professor of history from the Education Cadre, was posted to NAEM as an assistant director for Common Services on May 14, 2013. She has also remained at the academy’s Dhaka office for 13 years. Asked about her long tenure, Sabihah Yasmin said she had caught a cold and could not speak, adding that she would call back later.

The two officials are not the only ones. Eleven other officials have allegedly continued working at NAEM’s Dhaka office for periods exceeding the limits set by government service rules and the transfer and posting policy for Education Cadre officials.

Several Education Cadre officials alleged that some officers who had remained at NAEM for years had become involved in internal politics and various irregularities. They also alleged that some officials had concealed information and used their influence with senior government officials to remain at the academy.

According to the officials, several positions at NAEM changed after the student-public uprising, but many officers who had served there for years remained in their posts. Some have spent more than 12 years at the academy. An investigation into the matter was also conducted by the Education Ministry, they said, but no action was taken.

“Several training specialists have been here for a long time on deputation from DSHE. There are also several others in different positions. However, the ministry can better explain how they have remained here for so long, as the ministry oversees transfers and postings,” NAEM Director General Professor Dr Wasim Md Mejbahul Haque told The Daily Campus.

What the Transfer Policy Says

The Education Ministry issued a policy on the transfer of education officials on April 10, 2017. Under the policy, BCS General Education Cadre officials cannot remain in the same department or organisation for more than three consecutive years. The policy also states that an official cannot be transferred directly from one department or organisation to another. They must serve at a college for at least two years in between.

An official can serve in departments or organisations no more than three times during their entire career and cannot spend more than six years in such postings in total. The government, however, may transfer an official to any department at any time when necessary. Officials alleged that these provisions have not been effectively applied in the case of NAEM officers.

An NAEM official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “NAEM has essentially become a hub of corruption because of officials who have stayed here for a long time. They are becoming involved in internal politics and various irregularities. The Education Ministry also conducted an investigation into the matter. But for some reason, necessary action has not been taken.”

Officials Who Have Stayed at NAEM for Years

Professor Swapan Kumar Saha is currently on post-retirement leave after spending 11 years and 17 days at NAEM. He joined the academy’s Dhaka office on February 15, 2013, and went on post-retirement leave from there.

Professor Monwara Khatun, a professor of philosophy, joined NAEM on February 11, 2013. She is currently working there as a training specialist on deputation and has spent 12 years and six months at the Dhaka office.

“I am currently on deputation at DSHE. I have only a short period left in my service. The government can transfer me if it wants,” she said. Asked how she had remained at NAEM for so many years, she replied, “I stayed because the government kept me here.”

Professor Rubaba Rahman, a professor of zoology, joined NAEM’s Dhaka office on September 24, 2018. She has remained there for six years and 11 months. Asked whether she had stayed by withholding information, she said, “Whether I stayed by concealing information is something the authorities can say. I am not interested in discussing this after so many years.”

• Professor Asma Akter Khatun, a zoology training specialist, has been working at NAEM since February 1, 2010, spending 15 years and two months there.
• Professor Md Shaukat Ali Khan, a botany training specialist, has been at NAEM’s Dhaka office for eight years and five months.
• Professor Md Saidur Rahman Kotowal, a political science training specialist, joined NAEM on March 20, 2014, and has worked at the academy’s Dhaka office for 11 years and three months.
• Another training specialist, Shamsun Akter Siddiqui, has been working at NAEM Bhaban for 10 years and 11 months. She joined the academy on October 15, 2014.
• Sheikh Mohammad Ali has served as a training specialist at NAEM Bhaban for eight years and six months.
• Professor Dr Shah Md Amir Ali, who works in the Administration and Finance branch, joined NAEM on July 28, 2021, and has remained at the academy for four years and 11 months.
• Professor Md Saiduzzaman has worked at NAEM for six years and nine months, while Assistant Director of the Training and Implementation branch Golam Mahmud has been there for three years and 11 months.

Asked about the long-serving officials, NAEM Director General Professor Dr Wasim Md Mejbahul Haque reiterated that several training specialists were serving at the academy on deputation from DSHE.

He said, “Several training specialists have been here for a long time on deputation from DSHE. There are also several others in different positions. However, the ministry can better explain how they have remained here for so long, as the ministry oversees transfers and postings.”

The Daily Campus contacted Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon several times on his mobile phone for comment, but he did not answer the calls.