Govt plans to upgrade rank of BGB DG
DEEPAK ACHARJEE
As part of ongoing reforms in Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the government is planning to upgrade the status of post of Director General (DG) of the paramilitary force from Major General to Lieutenant General.
There is one post of DG, working as Major General rank officer of the Bangladesh Army on deputation.
The home ministry has prepared a proposal towards upgrading the status of the post, and sent it recently to the Public Administration Ministry for approval, said sources in the Home Ministry and BGB.
This will create opportunities for officers of the rank of lieutenant general of Bangladesh Army for posting to the paramilitary force on deputation if the authorities concerned upgrade the rank and status of BGB.
A home ministry official informed that they are seeking approval from the Public Administration Ministry in this regard. We plan to issue a gazette notification for upgrading the post of the border guards by December 20, before the Director General-level meeting between BGB and the Border Security Force (BSF) of India to be held on December 22 and 23 this year, he said.
Talking to this correspondent, a senior BGB officer said that they have sent a proposal to upgrade the post of the border guard to the home ministry a few months ago. But the home ministry is yet to inform us about any development on the matter, he said.
Asked why they want to upgrade the post of BGB DG, the officer said, Border forces of the two neighbours hold bilateral meetings two times a year. The post of director general of BSF, one of the five central armed police forces of India, is a three-star level officer who enjoys the rank equivalent to Lieutenant General of army.
During DG-level talks, our counterparts lead their delegations headed by a three-star level officer, while our part is led by a two-star level officer. At the IG-level talks, their delegation is led by a two-star level officer while our part by a one-star level officer. As a result, BSF officers feel uneasy during the meetings as our officers are of lower ranks, he added.
There are six special DGs in BSF and all of them are three star-level officers, the officer said.
It may be mentioned that BSF has its own cadre of officers but its head, designated as Director General, has always been an officer from the Indian Police Service. By contrast, there is no cadre in BGB. Its officers are appointed from the army on deputation though non-cadre staff is appointed through fresh recruitment.
