In a recent move, 11 officials among the 24 deprived officials have appealed to the finance adviser to do the needful as per the promotion committee's recommendations.

According to the sources in the banking sector, these officials, who among 183 of nationalised banks and financial institutions faced interviews in 2003, were recommended for promotion by a four-member body headed by the then Bangladesh Bank governor, Dr Fakruddin Ahmed, but the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) did not give any go-ahead to the promotion of these officials. They were among the 65 selected for elevating to the posts of general manager.

The PMO at that time, however, chose only 41 officials from the merit list prepared by the finance ministry committee. The rest 24 officials' promotions were then postponed on the plea that more enquiries were needed before finalisation of their cases.

The deprived officials including Tapan Kumar Ghos, Mustak Ahmed, Shaheda Begum, Abu Ahmed Jafar Iqbal and Abul Bashar Akand of Sonali Bank, Nur Mohammad of Janata Bank, Jebun Nahar of Agrani Bank, Abul Hasnat and Rafizuddin of Rupali Bank, Lehasuddin of Krishi Bank and Dr Provash Chandra Roy of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank individually submitted their appeal to the adviser in charge of the finance and planning ministry.

The other deprived officials have either gone to retirement or joined some private banks after a long waiting for necessary action for their promotions.

Although the government took another initiative in 2005 to promote some officials, the list of the deprived officials had not been looked into, some of the aggrieved officials lamented.

"Recently, the caretaker government (CG) has already promoted 361 officials of the public administration," said an official, adding that they have appealed to the CG considering its neutral character.