Bangladesh, Jan. 19 -- Some 290 government officials are currently serving as officers on special duty (OSD) while 177 officials and employees are working at different ministries and departments on contract basis.

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain told this in Parliament on Sunday while responding to a tabled question from BNP MP Golam Mohammad Siraj.

He said government officials are made OSD on different grounds that include promotion, taking part in training or higher education, and personal reason.

In reply to a query from Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque Chunnu, the state minister said a total of 313,848 posts remain vacant at present under different ministries.

He informed the House that various measures were t...