The coordination committee of Prokrichi-BCS General Education Association yesterday held a meeting with senior government officials, though nothing significant came out of it except for some assurances to meet the former’s demands. The meeting discussed permanent solutions for promotion of different civil service cadres, sending the proposed organogram to the Public Administration Ministry, and gradual reform of non-cadre services. Sources present at the meeting said that quick steps will be taken to implement the salary discrimination committee’s decision to upgrade education cadres from Grade 4 to Grade 3. Also discussed at the meeting was the power of Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) in a Upazila Parishad where the UNO’s signature will be required for disbursement of all funds. Sources also said that effective steps will be taken to remove discrimination between cadres and non-cadres at entry level of first-class jobs.
However, Secretary General of BCS General Education Association, I.K. Selim Ullah Khondaker, told The Independent, “We still did not get any specific solution for our problems at the meeting. But we hope those will be resolved.” “It was a follow-up meeting. Another meeting will be held next week to discuss these issues elaborately,” he added. Representing the government at the meeting were the Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary, Abul Kalam Azad; Ministry of Public Administration’s Senior Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser; and  Senior Finance Secretary, Mahbubur Rahman. Also present at the meeting were Convenor of coordination committee, Prokrichi-BCS A.F.M. Bahauddin Nasim; member secretary Md Firoze Khan; member Prof Dr Mahmud Hasan; Prof Dr Iqbal Arsanal; Engineer Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan; Engineer Md Abdus Sabur; Prof Nasrin Begum; and Khondaker. Professional bodies and the BCS General Education Association coordination committee have been agitating under a single banner since October 2015 for restoration of timescale and selection grade and removal of disparities from the new pay scale effective July 2015.