The Dhaka University (DU) administration is embarking on a process to elevate more than 200 assistant registrars and equivalent officials, raising concerns about potential breaches of the university’s current promotion regulations.
Per the University Employees Recruitment and Promotion Policy-2020, only a third of the total authorized assistant registrar positions can be advanced to deputy registrar status annually.
Nevertheless, sources within the Registrar Building revealed that the ongoing initiative aims to promote 207 officials, surpassing the allowable threshold.
Insiders familiar with the situation explained that as per the policy, only 21 assistant registrars or equivalent officers are qualified for promotion each year. Within the DU Registrar’s Office, there are 12 sanctioned assistant registrar roles, allowing for the annual promotion of four officials. Outside the Registrar’s Office, there are 51 equivalent positions, enabling 17 officials to be considered for promotion yearly.
Despite these limitations, the administration is moving forward with a comprehensive promotion strategy.
After a political transition in 2024, the Registrar’s Office initiated a promotion application process in February 2025. It was highlighted that numerous employees missed out on promotions during the previous regime, leading to the current push for promotions.
Although efforts are underway to develop a new promotion policy, it has not been put into effect yet. Meanwhile, a syndicate meeting held on February 1, chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan, sanctioned a report proposing the promotion of 187 officials. Subsequently, the syndicate accepted applications for reconsideration from an additional 20 officials.
Several officials at the Registrar’s Office disclosed that the Promotion Board is scheduled to conduct interviews with applicants on February 16 and 17. If the syndicate endorses the Board’s recommendations, the promotions will be implemented accordingly.
Some administrative personnel cautioned that executing the plan would elevate the university’s annual salary expenditure by approximately Tk 3.5 crore.
Registrar Munshi Shams Uddin Ahmed mentioned that the DU Officers’ Association compiled a list of 187 officials who had been overlooked for promotions over the past 15 years.
He stated, “Upon submission to the vice-chancellor, a technical committee was established.”
“The committee’s findings were presented to the syndicate, which issued specific directives. We are adhering to those instructions,” he added.
Secretary of the Officers’ Association, Sarwar Hossain, emphasized the long-standing grievances of administrative staff under the current promotion framework.
“We have faced prolonged neglect due to the existing promotion policy. While university professors receive full promotions, we are limited to one-third,” he expressed.
“We petitioned the vice-chancellor for special promotions to rectify the long-standing neglect and elevate deserving officials. This is why we advocated for special promotions for 187 individuals,” he added.
Registrar Munshi Shams further clarified that many applicants were already receiving salaries equivalent to deputy registrar or similar positions.
“This will primarily involve a designation upgrade. Given their extensive tenure in their respective roles, they have essentially reached this grade already. Their remuneration will see a slight increase,” he explained.
When questioned about the matter at a press briefing, VC Prof Niaz justified the move as a means of addressing past grievances.
“This is a broad decision; several government entities have already taken similar actions,” he stated. “If anyone has been unfairly treated, we have resolved to promote them once under specific conditions. However, the exact number of officials to be promoted has not been finalized,” he concluded.
