The ministry sources said an official under the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) economic cadre would be promoted on the basis of seniority, which included his years in development projects.

But according to Regularisation and Seniority Regulations 1995, when an official is transferred from development projects to revenue budget, the time spent at the projects cannot be counted as service years, the officials said.

On July 25, the Superior Selection Board approved the promotion of the official to joint chief at the planning ministry, thereby giving him seniority under the economic cadre, they added.

Transfer of an official from the 'development project' to the 'revenue budget' means that he or she is brought under the BCS cadre structure and starts to receive government benefits from that point of time, the officials said.

Last year the officials filed a writ petition challenging the promotion and the High Court ordered in January that the issue be resolved according to the regulations.