In a brash bid to establish supremacy at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the feuding groups wield their influence to manipulate key appointments, postings, transfers and programmes and pursue their favoritism agenda compromising state interest.

The PMO staff comprises a principal secretary, a secretary, four director generals, 15 directors, seven press officials, two assistant private secretaries, two protocol officers, an assignment officer and several dozen officers and advisers on different cells and departments.

"There is no understanding among the four top people at the PMO -- two political secretaries, the principal secretary and the acting secretary to the prime minister," a top ruling alliance source said.

The hostility among the top ranks has permeated the lower spheres spawning a set of rival groups and sub-groups among officials, both civil servants and political appointees.

"Some of the staff openly side themselves with certain groups and think that they are only accountable to their clique chiefs," an official said.

"The groups waste most of their time in mutual backbiting, stagnating vital activities at the top executive office of the republic," a senior minister remarked.

The long-running feuds escalated recently when rival groups complained to the prime minister about each other.

"It's time to replace most officials at the PMO who are playing dirty games, making illegal fortunes and serving their own interest," the minister said.

Source said many staff at the PMO lobby the government for postings abroad, some always look for foreign trips and many are engaged in illegal dealings.

Sections of officials at PM's Personal Wing and Press Wing frequently skip designated office work and serve the interest of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders, who do not have any official assignment.

Officials said the premier came to know of some acts of her 'over ambitious staff' and is likely to remove them soon.

"The PM is personally annoyed with some senior members of the staff and likely to take action soon,"

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is planning to replace half a dozen officials at her office who are divided into two sharp blocs and engaged in a war of attrition in an effort to make the administration dynamic.

In a brash bid to establish supremacy at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the feuding groups wield their influence to manipulate key appointments, postings, transfers and programmes and pursue their favoritism agenda compromising state interest.

The PMO staff comprises a principal secretary, a secretary, four director generals, 15 directors, seven press officials, two assistant private secretaries, two protocol officers, an assignment officer and several dozen officers and advisers on different cells and departments.

"There is no understanding among the four top people at the PMO -- two political secretaries, the principal secretary and the acting secretary to the prime minister," a top ruling alliance source said.

The hostility among the top ranks has permeated the lower spheres spawning a set of rival groups and sub-groups among officials, both civil servants and political appointees.

"Some of the staff openly side themselves with certain groups and think that they are only accountable to their clique chiefs," an official said.

"The groups waste most of their time in mutual backbiting, stagnating vital activities at the top executive office of the republic," a senior minister remarked.

The long-running feuds escalated recently when rival groups complained to the prime minister about each other.

"It's time to replace most officials at the PMO who are playing dirty games, making illegal fortunes and serving their own interest," the minister said.

Source said many staff at the PMO lobby the government for postings abroad, some always look for foreign trips and many are engaged in illegal dealings.

Sections of officials at PM's Personal Wing and Press Wing frequently skip designated office work and serve the interest of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders, who do not have any official assignment.

Officials said the premier came to know of some acts of her 'over ambitious staff' and is likely to remove them soon.

"The PM is personally annoyed with some senior members of the staff and likely to take action soon," a PMO source said.

The premier recently declined a proposal of Principal Secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, whose contractual service expires on January 9, to nominate him as the vice-chairman of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), he claimed.

Under the previous BNP government of Khaleda from 1991 to 1996, Siddiqui served as her secretary. When the government's term neared completion, he successfully got nomination for the executive director of the ADB.

The Awami League government that took office in 1996 ballot recalled him.

The PMO official alleged the chance of Siddiqui retaining the principal secretary's position on further contract was remote this time as many secretaries complained to the premier about him.