At least 15 officials have been working on contract at the secretary level while two others at additional secretary level, said Aminul Haq, in-charge of the establishment ministry with regard to parliamentary affairs, in the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday.

He also placed a list of the officials while replying to a question from BNP lawmaker Rustam Ali Farazi.

The list shows that Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and Secretary of the office Khandaker Shahidul Islam are appointed on contract.

Khairuzzaman, chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Akhter Hossain Khan, secretary of the Planning Division, and Siddiqur Rahman Chowdhury, Secretary of the finance division, are also on the list. These posts are under the finance ministry.

Besides, Cabinet Secretary ASM Abdul Halim, Communications Secretary Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, Law Secretary Md Alauddin Sarder, Shipping Secretary Rafiqul Islam, Foreign Secretary Hemayet Uddin, Defence Secretary Mahmud Hasan Mansur, Housing and Public Works Secretary Iqbal Uddin Chowdhury and Acting Secretary to the labour and employment ministry Syed Sujauddin Ahmed have been working on contract.

Alternative Executive Director of the World Bank Zakir Ahmed Khan and Ambassador Muhammad Abul Kashem are also appointed on contract.

The two officials appointed on contract at the additional secretary level are Vice-Chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission AMM Reza-e-Rabbi and Press Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office Tajul Islam.