DHAKA: The government plans taking punitive actions against several hundred civil, military and police officials of the administration on various charges of offence.

Officials are accused of patronizing militants, obstructing development initiatives of the government and having their allegiance to the leaders of the BNP-Jamaat alliance, top government officials and ruling party’s bigwigs said.

A list of the suspected offenders has been prepared that includes 11 officials with Secretary rank, 42 of Additional Secretary and around 100 officers of Joint Secretary position.

Prime Minister’s Adviser for Education Dr Alauddin Ahmed told banglanews24.com.bd that listed officials having link to the “anti-independence alliance” would be purged from the administration in phases.

“All these officials had close contacts with the people in the then Hawa Bhaban during the BNP-Jamaat alliance regime. They were influential enough to corner other officials in the administration,” a competent source said, preferring anonymity.

The list also includes names of over 50 military officials of Major-General, Brigadier-General and Colonel ranks.

Besides, five officials of Additional Inspector-General and Deputy Inspector-General ranks and 30 of Police Super rank are also on the list for allegedly patronizing militants.

“Many of the listed officials used quota for freedom fighters during the BNP-Jamaat regime to get appointment in the civil, military and police administrations. Many of them were directly involved with anti-independence political party,” the source said.

A highly placed source in the administration said 2,379 officials, including 76 Secretaries, 201 Additional Secretaries, 532 Joint Secretaries and 1,570 Deputy Secretaries, were promoted during the BNP-Jamaat coalition rule for their loyalty to the alliance.

Such politicization kept some 1,402 officials in the administration deprived of any promotion.

BDST 1935 HRS, JULY 8, 2010.