The government would soon recruit one lakh additional manpower at different levels of the public administration in a bid to quick translation of its pledges and expedite implementation of development programmes, official sources said on Sunday. “The government has taken the decision as the existing manpower shortage at the different stages of public administration is hindering implementation of government decisions, electoral pledges and smooth execution of development projects,” a senior government official told The New Nation on condition of anonymity. The issue of implementation of government decisions and annual development programmes came up at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The official said that the meeting discussed the issue of shortage of manpower at different levels of the public administration, terming it as the key impediment to implement the government decisions and carry forward the development programmes.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the meeting expressed dissatisfaction over the sluggish implementation of her government’s policy decisions as well as development programmes. “She asked the concerned ministries to take immediate steps to expedite implementation of all the government decisions and development programmes so that people can benefit from the programmes,” he said, adding, side by side, she also asked the concerned ministry to recruit necessary manpower in the civil administration on urgent basis. Entrusting the task of formulating the policies for recruiting additional manpower, the meeting also formed a high-powered body headed by Cabinet Secretary M Muhsarraf Hossain Bhuiyan.”The body will work to hire necessary manpower in the government administration and expedite the process to fill the new and vacant posts in collaboration with Public Service Commission (PSC),” said the official.The cabinet also asked the ministries to expedite the process for preparing their respective time-bound action plans, projects and development programmes in light of the election manifesto of the present government.Earlier, the Cabinet Division placed a report on implementation status of the government decision before the Cabinet meeting for its review.According the report, around 48.77 per cent of the cabinet decisions remain unimplemented during the three-month tenure of the Awami-League-led government. Only 19 out of total 37 decisions taken in 10 cabinet meetings have been implemented between January 1 and March 31 this year, the report said.The report identified the manpower shortage as the key obstacle for the poor implementation of the government decision. According to the report, the Cabinet enacted two laws in parliament, formulated two policies and ratified and signed six Memorandum of Understanding and agreements during the period.
