The Superior Selection Board (SSB) at a meeting yesterday promoted 12 additional secretaries to the rank of secretary. They were serving as acting secretary in different ministries and divisions for over a year.

Those promoted are Khondaker Showkat Hossain of public works ministry, M Aslam Alam of Disaster Management and Relief Division, Mesbah UI Alam of environment and forest ministry and Md Ebadot Ali of railway division.

Others include Suraiya Begum of cultural affairs ministry, Tariqul Islam of women and children affairs ministry, Shafiq Alam Mehedi of labour and employment ministry and Mohammed Golam Quddus of Privatisation Commission.

The remaining four are Md Rafiqul Islam of Information and Communication Technology Division, KH Masud Siddiqui of industries ministry, Muhammed Sadique of Election Commission Secretariat and Ranjit Kumar Biswas of social welfare ministry.

SSB, known as a powerful committee

dealing with promotion of cadre officers, also promoted 30 joint secretaries to the post of additional secretary.

The promotion issue was pending with SSB for a long time, causing frustration among the acting secretaries.

Cabinet Secretary M Abul Aziz heads the selection board, which earlier discussed the matter but did not take a decision.

Roads and Highways Division officials

SSB is yet to take any decision about promoting Roads and Highways Department officials.

Out of 14 posts of additional chief engineers, 13 are lying vacant for about two years.

This means the department has only one additional secretary while the remaining posts are held by superintendent engineers, either on current or additional charge.

The communications minister sent a list of the potential candidates and the matter was discussed at two SSB meetings so far. Yesterday, the matter was not even put on the agenda of the SSB meeting, said communications ministry officials.