Dhaka: The Cabinet Division has directed the authorities concerned to take departmental action against government employees who lobby through outsiders or influential quarters over matters related to their jobs, describing such lobbying as misconduct. The Cabinet Division recently issued a letter in this regard, instructing relevant authorities to take necessary measures to prevent government employees from lobbying over employment-related matters.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the letter emphasized that the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979, clearly specify the standards of conduct that government employees must follow in performing their duties. The letter noted that some government employees have been observed sending individuals from various levels to officials of concerned offices to lobby on different matters related to their employment.
The Cabinet Division stated that such lobbying constitutes a clear violation of Rule 20 of the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979, and amounts to misconduct under Rule 2(b) of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018. The directive mandates that departmental proceedings must be initiated against any employee who causes others to make unwanted representations or lobby on their behalf regarding employment matters, in accordance with the Government Servants Rules.
The letter further specified that details of such lobbying must be recorded in the concerned employee's dossier. However, government employees retain the right to submit applications concerning employment matters. Employees may submit applications to the controlling ministry, division, or authority through the proper channel, and the controlling ministry must dispose of such applications reasonably within a maximum of one month.
The Cabinet Division requested the authorities concerned to issue necessary instructions to the offices and agencies under their respective control regarding this directive. The letter was sent to the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, all senior secretaries and secretaries, all divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, and upazila nirbahi officers.