Bureaucracy still struggling to find its feet

Highlights:

• Bangladesh's bureaucracy remains unstable nearly two years after Hasina's fall.
• BNP government has retired 151 officials since taking office.
• Controversial promotions have raised questions about merit and vetting.
• Contractual appointments increasingly influence key government administrative positions.
• Frequent transfers are frustrating officials and slowing administrative activities.
• Bureaucratic instability is affecting development and undermining proposed administrative reforms.

With Sheikh Hasina's fall, Bangladesh's bureaucracy – like many other key institutions – collapsed almost overnight. For three days after 5 August 2024, there was virtually no functioning government as institutions that had helped sustain an increasingly authoritarian regime fractured under the shock.

Restoring the civil administration was therefore the first task of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. But its laissez-faire approach often compounded the disorder: bureaucratic orders were hastily changed, long-retired officials were brought back and placed in key posts, while an attempt to reform public administration collapsed amid resistance from serving officials.

Infograph: TBS

For the BNP government, which came to power on 17 February with a strong mandate in the 12 February election and a pledge to restore meritocracy, the stakes are higher. Turning political promises into reliable public services requires a stable bureaucracy staffed by skilled, committed and efficient civil servants.

Six months on, however, bureaucracy under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's government is still characterised by abrupt transfers, promotions and postings based on loyalty, the dominance of retired officials on contract, and the forced retirement of officials deemed disloyal. Rebuilding a professional and stable civil service may prove one of the government's most difficult tasks.

Since taking office on 17 February, at least 151 officials in the administration and police have been sent into compulsory retirement. Political figures have been directly appointed to top positions at 12 state-owned organisations. At the same time, 179 deputy secretaries have been promoted to joint secretary.

In addition, at least 22 people have been appointed to important positions on a contractual basis, while several officials have been made OSDs or attached to the public administration ministry, effectively keeping them outside their regular responsibilities.

Officials from various ministries at the Secretariat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the situation in the public administration over nearly two years has made some officials increasingly reckless, while others have become frustrated and resentful and are no longer able to focus properly on their work.

As a result, administrative activities are losing momentum amid a persistent sense of instability.

Public administration expert Firoz Mia told TBS on 8 August, "The public administration is not moving forward; in some cases, it is actually moving backwards. As a result, instability is gradually increasing and the administration is losing momentum. If this trend continues, the public administration will become even weaker."

He said, however, that it was not too late.

"If the government wants to transform the public administration into an efficient, competent and service-oriented workforce, it can still do so," he said.

Widespread reshuffling

Soon after taking office on 17 February, the government began making changes at the highest levels of the administration.

The contractual appointments of nine senior secretaries and secretaries were cancelled, while three secretaries were attached to the public administration ministry. Secretaries were subsequently appointed, transferred and posted across various ministries and divisions.

In the final week of February, the Election Commission also transferred 112 officials at the Secretariat and field levels. The commission said the reshuffle was part of efforts to accelerate administrative activities following the election and referendum and prepare for local government elections.

151 officials sent into compulsory retirement

The government's handling of compulsory retirement has drawn the most questions.

On 22 April, 13 senior police officials, including several deputy inspector generals (DIGs), were retired in "public interest."

Eleven days later, on 3 May, another 17 officials holding the ranks of DIG and additional DIG were retired under the same provision.

On 5 July, another 33 senior police officials were sent into compulsory retirement, including 14 DIGs, 17 additional DIGs and two superintendents of police.

Then, on 27 July, 32 joint secretaries who had served as district commissioners and returning officers during the 2018 national election were sent into compulsory retirement. They were then working as OSDs at the Ministry of Public Administration.

Most recently, 56 police officials were sent into compulsory retirement on 14 August.

In several rounds, at least 151 officials from the administration and police have been sent into compulsory retirement. Government officials have also questioned the decisions, saying they could set precedents for the future.

Promotions also spark controversy

The biggest round of promotions since the BNP government took office came on 9 July.

Through two separate notifications, a total of 179 deputy secretaries were promoted to joint secretary. While the move was welcomed as a positive step for officials who had been denied promotion for a long time, questions have been raised over the vetting process and the functioning of the Superior Selection Board after retired, punished and controversial officials appeared on the list.

The authorities concerned have not provided any explanation regarding the allegations.

At least 50 deputy secretaries from the 25th BCS batch have applied for reconsideration of their promotions.

There is also resentment and frustration among officials over promotions from joint secretary to additional secretary.

Most recently, 277 officials were promoted to deputy secretary on 17 August. Of them, 72 are from outside the administration cadre.

Contractual appointments expand

Contractual appointments have also emerged as a notable feature of the new government's administrative management.

On 3 March, four people were appointed as secretaries on a contractual basis to four key ministries — agriculture, local government, health services, and secondary and higher education.

On 18 April, three more former bureaucrats were appointed at secretary rank on a contractual basis to important positions at the NGO Affairs Bureau, Land Appeal Board and Waqf Administration.

On 16 April, Abdun Naser Khan was appointed secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute on a one-year contractual basis.

In July, a political assistant to the prime minister was appointed at secretary rank on a contractual basis. A one-year contractual appointment was also made to the post of chairman of the Bangladesh Jute Corporation, while 12 people were simultaneously appointed to top positions at various government agencies and corporations.

Experts have raised questions over the politicisation of government institutions through such appointments.

There are currently 90 secretaries or officials holding secretary-equivalent positions in the public administration. Of them, 21 have been appointed on contracts.

Another 11 regular secretaries have been attached to the public administration ministry without being given any departmental assignment.

Transfers continue

Regular transfers and postings at various levels of the administration have also continued.

Officials concerned said repeated transfers of additional secretaries, joint secretaries, deputy secretaries, senior assistant secretaries and upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) have left field-level officials reluctant to undertake anything beyond routine duties.

Meanwhile, the government is preparing a fitness list of 30th-batch administration cadre officials for new appointments as deputy commissioners.

As a result, most serving DCs are continuing with their regular duties, although many are reportedly likely to be replaced before completing their usual three-year tenure.

Impact on development activities

The instability in the public administration is affecting the government's development activities.

Administrative reshuffling and slow decision-making have reportedly caused coordination problems in project preparation, approval processes and implementation at the field level.

However, project approval and implementation have not come to a complete halt because the institutional structures of the Planning Commission, ECNEC and IMED remain operational.

Meanwhile, development activity recorded its lowest implementation rates in the past two fiscal years.

The planning ministry has also indicated that ADP implementation remained low in July, the first month of the current 2026-27 fiscal year.

Reform Commission's recommendations ignored

The main objective of the Public Administration Reform Commission formed during the interim government was to reduce political influence over official management and institutionalise appointments, promotions, transfers and accountability.

But during the first six months of the current government, large-scale transfers, OSD postings, compulsory retirements, promotions and contractual appointments remain important tools of administrative management.

According to Firoz Mia, the key issue in assessing the administration is not the appointment or retirement of any particular official, but the criteria used to make such decisions.

"Contractual appointments can be justified when specialised expertise is required. But if a change of government is followed by the simultaneous removal of large numbers of officials, their placement as OSDs, compulsory retirement, and fresh rounds of promotions and contractual appointments, questions about the professional stability of the administration will inevitably remain."