Allegations have surfaced that the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is attempting to promote 29 junior consultants who were allegedly appointed illegally during the previous Awami League government without written or oral examinations. Despite multiple letters from the Posts and Telecommunications Division urging action after the issue appeared in a government audit, the commission has reportedly taken no visible steps. Instead, efforts are underway to finalize the promotions before the new government assumes office.

According to sources, the audit identified the appointments as illegal and corrupt. The government’s recently formed White Paper Committee, tasked with investigating 15 years of irregularities in the telecommunications sector, also found extensive corruption in BTRC recruitment and listed the names of these officials. Reports indicate that the commission has twice rescheduled meetings to push through the promotions, an unusual move in its history.

A departmental promotion meeting on January 25 decided that officials with audit objections would not be promoted, but the decision was not finalized. Several senior posts remain vacant, and many qualified officers allege that their promotions are being delayed to favor unqualified appointees.