Rabiul’s memo on state ministers ‘bypasses rules’

Road Transport and Bridges, Railways, and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam has expressed his desire to distribute responsibilities among two state ministers in an office memo to the cabinet secretary.

The memo, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Ajit Deb on Tuesday, says that State Minister Habibur Rashid will be assigned responsibilities for the railways ministry and the Road Transport and Highways Division.

State Minister Rajib Ahsan will be given charge of the shipping ministry and the Bridges Division.

The memo said the decision was made the previous day and was being implemented accordingly.

Sources at the Cabinet Division said a minister cannot request the cabinet secretary, through a senior assistant secretary of his ministry, to allocate portfolios to state ministers of any ministry.

The memo also did not mention whether the prime minister’s consent had been obtained, which is mandatory under the Rules of Business.

A former secretary, speaking on condition of anonymity, said such situations arise due to a lack of clarity regarding procedural requirements. “Problems have been created due to not knowing such matters. Ministers and state ministers should be given training on this issue,” he said.

A former cabinet secretary told The Daily Star, “Neither a junior officer of another ministry nor the secretary of that ministry can send a letter to the cabinet secretary on any issue related to the cabinet. Only a minister can do that.

“Yet, a copy of an order signed by a senior assistant secretary has been sent to the cabinet secretary. What more can I say? I have no words.”

He added that even if a minister does not know the matter properly, the secretary should know.

“These matters should be taken seriously. Otherwise, similar examples may be seen in other areas in which people act as they wish without knowing the rules,” he said.

When attempts were made to reach Minister Rabiul, his phone was found switched off.

The public relations officer of his ministry did not pick up the phone either.

Ajit Deb, the senior assistant secretary who signed the memo, could not be reached over phone. He did not respond to texts.