50 days and 500 promotions: Civil admin still struggles with stagnation
There have also been reports that many of the recently promoted officials and those brought in from outside the Secretariat are struggling to adapt to their new roles
After the fall of Sheikh Hasina regime on 5 August, Bangladesh's public administration was thrown into a state of disarray, with a near-total collapse in government operations. To revive the administration, the interim government, which took its oath on the night of 8 August, immediately focused on reactivating the civil service.
However, the effort was met with further complications as some bureaucrats, eager for promotions and key postings, banded together to exert pressure, creating an unprecedented level of disorder within the public administration.
The new government responded by implementing widespread promotions, transfers, cancelling contracts of previous regime appointees, making officers on special duties (OSDs), and enforcing mandatory retirements. It also filled several key positions with new contract-based appointments.
Despite these efforts, more than fifty days into the interim government's tenure, the administration remains sluggish and indecisive, with slowed government activities and little progress in policymaking or development, according to officials from different ministries.
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They said the dysfunction in public administration is due to some bureaucrats focusing more on managing the situation and securing their own benefits over the country's governance needs.
There have also been reports that many of the recently promoted officials and those brought in from outside the Secretariat are struggling to adapt to their new roles.
A senior bureaucrat, who has worked in a ministry for 28 years, said that work has come to a standstill, with officials uncertain about their roles and responsibilities.
"People aren't sure who is supposed to do what, and this uncertainty is causing a lot of discussions among officials," he said. "In my long career, I have never witnessed such dysfunction in the Secretariat."
Several sources from different ministries said regular meetings, particularly inter-ministerial gatherings, have significantly decreased. Meetings with private sector stakeholders have also become rare.
Ali Imam Majumdar, adviser attached to the Chief Adviser's Office, however, dismissed the claim that the public administration is not functioning properly.
"I don't think those who say the public administration isn't functioning properly are correct. The Secretariat, the field administration is operational. District and upazila administrations are working as expected," he told The Business Standard over phone on 25 September.
Any issues are temporary and stem from the natural adjustment period following the change in government. Overall, there are no significant problems, he added.
When asked about vacancies in several ministries, Majumdar, who is also a former cabinet secretary, said efforts are underway to fill the positions quickly. He assured that secretaries would be appointed from newly promoted officials within a week.
Currently, ten secretary positions across various ministries, divisions, and departments remain vacant, while eight districts are operating without deputy commissioners.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has also voiced concerns over the slow pace of government operations. During a meeting on 23 September, the party's acting chairman Tarique Rahman, presiding virtually, expressed concerns at the state of administrative affairs.
Shakeups at public offices
Around 500 officials have been promoted since 8 August, according to the Ministry of Public Administration. The first major round of promotions occurred on 13 August when 117 senior assistant secretaries were promoted to the rank of deputy secretary.
Within a week, another 223 deputy secretaries were promoted to joint secretary. By 25 August, a further 131 joint secretaries were promoted to additional secretary.
In total, 471 promotions were made between 8 and 25 August, with an additional 30 officials, including seven secretaries, promoted in subsequent days.
The interim government has also cancelled the contracts of ten senior secretaries and secretaries. Four secretaries have been forced into retirement, and several additional secretaries have also been placed in mandatory retirement. At least ten senior officials, including senior secretaries, have been made OSDs.
On 17 August, five retired additional secretaries were appointed to the position of secretary on a contractual basis for two years. On 28 August, retired additional secretary Mokhlesur Rahman was also appointed as a senior secretary under a contractual agreement.
