After going for contractual appointments at the top administrative posts, the government has now started appointing lower-tier officials on contract.

Official sources said on March 24 the government appointed Senior Information Officer Abul Khaier Saleh Ahmed on contract for one year, cancelling his leave preparatory retirement (LPR).

The post of senior information officer is equivalent to that of senior assistant secretary. Sources said there was no contractual appointment below the deputy secretary level in the civil service before.

The move has sparked resentment among the government officials.

Sources at the Ministry of Information said Saleh Ahmed had been working as information officer of the State Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

"There is no instance of contractual appointment in the low level of government service," said a high official of the information ministry.

Sources said the information ministry did not initiate the file on contractual appointment of the information officer. Rather, it was done at the initiative of the state minister because the Ahmed is very close to him, the sources added.

Both the prime minister and president have approved the contractual appointment of the information officer and an official notification in this regard was issued on March 24.

A top bureaucrat said the government can give contractual appointment to a person, who is beyond 57 years of age -- which is also the age to retire -- if the person is very competent and indispensable.

Besides, the relevant ministry or department needs to properly follow the service rules and policy before recommending appointment of an individual on contract, he added.