Just a slap on the wrist?

What is the punishment for involvement in the embezzlement of Tk 7.35 crore from the government coffer?

Apparently, it is just a demotion if you are a government official.

The public administration ministry on April 4 demoted Promatha Ranjan Ghatak, former land acquisition officer in Madaripur, from senior assistant secretary to assistant secretary. The Daily Star has a copy of the gazette notification issued in this regard.

Promatha provided Tk 7.35 crore of public money as compensation to five individuals in June 2021, for supposedly acquiring their land for the Padma Bridge project in Madaripur's Magurkhanda area.

However, subsequent investigations by the public administration ministry found that the land never belonged to the five. Rather, it was government land for which a single penny should not have been paid, as the matter of compensation is out of question.

Promatha had been the land acquisition officer in Madaripur from June 2020 to June 2021.

As per the gazette notification, Promatha issued compensation cheques dated back to June 30, 2021, his final working day in Madaripur, despite the power of attorney documents being dated July 11, 2021. It stated he knowingly aided in unlawful withdrawal of Tk 7.35 crore from the government treasury by granting compensation for government land with corrupt intentions.

Currently, Promatha is working as the deputy chief (hydrologist) at the National River Conservation Commission.

He was demoted from grade 6 to grade 9 for three years. This action entails that he will not receive any annual increments or promotions during this period.

Contacted, Promatha declined to comment on this matter.

Many senior government officials at the Secretariat are surprised to see Promatha still with a job after being proven corrupt in such an important project.

They said he has only been punished for "misconduct" despite clear evidence of "corruption".

"After three years, this officer will get back to his previous senior rank," according to the gazette notification.

Senior officials said the ministry has been too lenient.

Under the civil service rules, there are four types of major penalties -- forced retirement, removal from the job, suspension, and demotion to a lower rank. Demotion is considered the lightest punishment.

Speaking to The Daily Star, a joint secretary said, "Corruption is not rare in the administration. But in some cases, even when investigations prove it, exemplary punishment is not meted out. This is making the administration weaker day by day. The corrupt officials now think they can get away without serious consequences."

Firoz Mia, former additional secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, said, "If corrupt officials are punished like this, they will be further encouraged to engage in corruption."

He said the government servants (discipline and appeal) rules in 1985 were quite strict about corruption. There were provisions to force corrupt employees into retirement.

"Since the rules were eased in 2018, corrupt officials have not been subjected to significant penalties for their involvement in corruption. This lack of stringent consequences will not yield positive results for the administration," he added.