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PMO shake-up on cards

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Major changes are expected at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) soon as the current staff have reportedly got involved in controversial interference and business deals.
Moreover, some appointments to some important positions, lying vacant since the BNP-led coalition government took power, are likely to be made after Prime Minister Khaleda Zia returns from the USA.
Sources said the persons appointed to the PMO under influence of a section of leaders more loyal to another centre of power than the head of the government are likely to be removed due to their uncalled for
interference in administrative activities.
Some cabinet members and party leaders have already requested the PM to change her staff as they are not happy with the present set-up at the PMO for not 'getting cooperation'.
Sources said Khaleda has assured her ministers and party leaders of bringing about changes at the PMO on her return from the USA.
There are also allegations that a section of officials at the PMO have also been involved in various business deals and regularly influence transfers and postings in exchange of various benefits.
Other than the political appointees, some govern
ment officials also reportedly interfere in administrative activities and get involved in business deals.
Sources said files coming from different ministries for the prime minister's decision get stuck at the PMO for days together due to shortage of manpower and lack of competent officials.
They said in many cases, the ministries have to constantly remind the PMO to clear important files.
Some senior officials at the secretariat alleged that they even needed to talk to very junior officials at the PMO over telephone to clear urgent files.
Sometimes the ministers themselves contact the private secretaries and assistant private secretaries for early disposal of files. Sources said a number of influential persons at the PMO do not come to office before 11:00am.
Even BNP leaders now feel that the officials at the prime minister's personal wing, press wing and administrative wing have become 'very powerful' and always try to impose their authority on ministers, senior bureaucrats and party leaders.
A cabinet minister, who wanted not to be named, told The Daily Star yesterday that the attitude of a section of officials and political appointees at the PMO is offending and they often interfere in administrative activities.
Annoyed cabinet ministers have told the prime minister that such activities were hampering the government's image. The chain of command and performance of different ministries were also being hampered.