EPB restructuring plan gets PM's nod
The proposal to recruit 25 per cent officials in the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) from private sector has received prime minister's nod
Professionals having good track record in business and well-versed in export related issues will be recruited in the EBP to bring dynamism in the export front, official sources said.
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on May 20 approved the EPB restructuring plan prepared by a high-powered committee, headed by the Establishment Secretary AB Chowdhury.
According to new plan, the present volume of EPB's manpower will be downsized to 265 from 286. Only lower-level employees numbering 21 will be retrenched.
A number of 66 high officials will be recruited from the private sector with total monthly salary of Tk 35 lakh.
Earlier, the World Bank had suggested recruiting skilled manpower from private sector to streamline the activities of the government's lone export wing.
The World Bank suggestion was given through a study conducted under the 'Export Diversification Project' of the Ministry of Commerce.
A three-member secretary committee headed by Finance Secretary Zakir Ahmad Khan will finalise the recruitment policy within the next one month, sources said.
Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told The Daily Star the present manpower of the EPB has been failing to cope with the demand. Skilled people from private sector will help boost the exports, he hoped.
The restructuring plan, however, has not addressed the discontentment of the EPB officials, who have long been serving in same posts without promotion, sources said.
Meanwhile, the shifting of the EPB office is on as the government earlier decided to shift EPB from Motijheel to Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) building at Karwan Bazar.
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