Masum Billah, a law officer of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, has been temporarily suspended. This strict administrative measure has been taken against him based on the allegation of making adverse comments in a video message on social media Facebook regarding the government's existing outsourcing policy. The order for this temporary suspension was issued on Sunday, September 6, from the Establishment-1 branch of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. This incident has once again highlighted the importance of the code of conduct for government employees regarding the use of social media.
The order issued by the Ministry clearly states that law officer Masum Billah made objectionable comments through a video message on Facebook against the government's prevailing outsourcing policy. According to the government, such actions fall under 'misconduct' as per Section 2(b) of the Government Employees (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018. These rules serve as an important guideline for maintaining the prescribed code of conduct and discipline for government employees. Through this step, the administration has reiterated its expectation of respect for government policies and responsible behaviour on social media.
The order further states that he has been accused of misconduct under Section 3(b) of the same rules, and a decision has been made to take departmental action against him. Misconduct is considered a serious offense in government service, which not only undermines job discipline but also questions the ethics of public service. As a result of such allegations, investigation and disciplinary action against a government employee is a normal process.
The Ministry has deemed it necessary and appropriate to temporarily suspend Masum Billah from service under Section 12(1) of the Government Employees (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018, in such circumstances. This section empowers the authorities to temporarily suspend an accused employee during the investigation so that the investigation process can be completed fairly and the accused person cannot use his position to influence the investigation in any way. During the period of temporary suspension, he will receive subsistence allowance as per the rules, which is provided for his basic living expenses according to government regulations.
The order signed by Deputy Secretary Mohammad Masum has been stated to be effective immediately. Copies of this order have been sent to various relevant departments, including the Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, the Private Secretary to the Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Ministry's ICT Cell, and the Chief Accounts and Finance Officer. Additionally, a copy of the order has also been provided to the accused law officer, Masum Billah, so that he can be aware of the action taken against him and seek necessary legal advice.
This incident highlights the importance of maintaining specific guidelines and strict ethics for government employees regarding the use of social media. There are specific procedures and frameworks for government employees to criticize or make adverse comments on government policies, which are essential to follow. Publishing comments in the form of a public video message on Facebook has been viewed as a violation of this framework, resulting in Masum Billah's temporary suspension. This action is expected to serve as a warning to other government employees, urging them to be more cautious when expressing their personal opinions on social media and to adhere to government service rules and regulations.
It is worth noting that the government's outsourcing policy is generally formulated with the aim of recruiting manpower, improving the quality of government services, and saving costs. Internal forums or specific channels exist for government employees to offer constructive criticism or suggestions regarding such policies. However, making adverse comments on public platforms on social media is viewed by the authorities as a breach of discipline. Following this temporary suspension, a full departmental investigation will be conducted to verify the veracity of the allegations against Masum Billah and to decide on the final punishment.
