An Officer on Special Duty (OSD) is a government official who is temporarily assigned without regular responsibilities. Placing officials in OSD positions is a common administrative practice in Bangladesh.
There are seven reasons to become an OSD
- In the public interest, administrative needs.
- After promotion to a higher position.
- To participate in recruitment or training.
- For the convenience of payment of salary allowances during LPR.
- In terms of application due to illness or personal reasons.
- If a departmental corruption case is filed and
- Due to more than three months’ leave.
Is OSD a punishment?
OSD is a punishment, and this is also a curse for professional life. The government employee who is on OSD has no idea when he will return to work. One OSD official, who had previously served as an additional secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources, described the assignment as deeply discouraging, saying he would not wish the experience on anyone.
The government employee reports to the secretariat every working day. After signing in, the official typically spends time in the library, where many OSD officers gather to read, work, or interact with colleagues.
After the office hours end, they go home. It becomes the official’s daily routine for months. But the salary and other facilities are still available to OSD employees.
OSD, An Officer on Special Duty Who Don’t Have Work
Impacts on personal life
An OSD is always concerned that his family is thinking less of him because of this situation. They might be thinking that he did something wrong or that he was not qualified enough. Many believe that he was made OSD because of his political views. He is ashamed to admit to his relatives that he has been made OSD. It’s a great shame for a man. Sometimes his peers or relatives think that he is associated with corruption. He always remains depressed about it. OSD is really a big suffering for the officers who are dealing with this.
Facilities given to an OSD
According to the Ministry of Public Administration, OSD officials continue to receive their salaries, allowances, official vehicles, and other benefits associated with their positions, despite having no regular duties or responsibilities. They typically report to the ministry, record their attendance, and spend their office hours in the library, canteen, or other designated areas.
Disorder in organizational structure:
Former bureaucrats also pointed out that too many OSDs are disrupting the organizational structure of the public administration. Without proper administration our country will fall apart.
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