Dhaka, Sept. 30 -- More than 100 engineers at the Public Works Department have been waiting for promotion as disputes over seniority between directly recruited and promoted assistant engineers have stalled the process.

The disputes have reached the courts, with the Ministry of Housing and Public Works taking the position that no decision should be made until the cases are finally resolved.

The delay has left 41 sub-divisional engineer (civil) posts vacant at the department, while another 31 posts in the electrical and mechanical branches are also unfilled.

Additional Secretary Md Sarwar Alam, who oversees promotion and litigation issues concerning officials, told bdnews24.com that seniority is generally determined under a 1970 policy b...