The committee at a meeting yesterday asked the ministry to place at its next meeting a list of officials who violating service rules joined the Janatar Mancha, meeting sources said.

Held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the meeting also asked the ministry to prepare the list in the light of reports of the Muyeet committee, Nurrunnabi committee and Shamsul Haque committee on administrative reforms.

"It will be a scandal in public administration if we allow the officials, who violated service rules, to go unpunished. So, we cannot permit it,'' Chairman of the committee Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul told The Daily Star.

Bakul pointed out as per service rules no government officials can participate in or assist political activities. But in 1996, some officials so this in their personal interests. They should be punished to ensure discipline and chain of command in the public administration, he added.

Meanwhile, a case has already been filed against some officials for their alleged involvement with the Jantar Mancha during the previous BNP rule in 1996 after a controversial general election.

The parliamentary body however did not discuss the case.

One source said some members of the body stressed downsizing the number of ministries from 40 to 20. The issue will be discussed at its next meeting, he added.

The committee recommended upgrading the status of diploma health technologists to class two officers from class three.

The meeting was attended by committee members and officials concerned. The state minister for finance and planning, who now is in charge of the ministry, was present at the meeting as the prime minister's representative.