Govt moves to form separate PSC for faster non-cadre recruitment
A 10-member committee has already been formed for this purpose
The government has initiated the process of forming a separate Public Service Commission (PSC) in a bid to expedite recruitment for non-cadre and other government positions.
A 10-member committee, headed by an additional secretary of the Rules Division under the Ministry of Public Administration, was formed on 23 April to lead this initiative.
The move follows a proposal by the Administrative Reform Commission, which recommended establishing three separate PSCs for recruitment in public service.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The newly formed committee, in its meeting on 20 April, suggested the formation of a dedicated PSC for non-cadre recruitment, a proposal approved by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on 21 April.
A member of the committee told TBS that the body will soon submit recommendations outlining the structure, staffing, and operational framework for the new PSC. It will also include detailed guidelines on how to implement the plan.
Historically, Bangladesh had two PSCs after independence in 1971— one for cadre service and another for non-cadre recruitment. These were later merged into a single entity.
However, due to repeated failures by ministries and departments to fill a large number of vacancies, the interim government now plans to revert to the existing system.
As of 2023, over 4,73,000 government posts remained vacant, and officials estimate that this number has now crossed 5,00,000.
Recruited through PSC's BCS exams, cadre officials form an elite service with national policy roles, while non-cadre officials, hired directly by departments, serve in technical or specialised roles with limited advancement prospects.
In a Facebook post on 27 April, LGRD Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan also stated that the latest Cabinet (Advisory Council) meeting held a detailed discussion on the Public Service Commission (PSC). Following concerns over delays and irregularities, the government decided to form two separate PSCs.
Earlier, the Administrative Reform Commission had proposed restructuring the Bangladesh Civil Service and recommended establishing three PSCs for recruitment and promotion:
- Public Service Commission (General): To conduct exams for recruitment and promotion in all services except education and health.
- Public Service Commission (Education): Dedicated to recruitment and promotion within the education cadre.
- Public Service Commission (Health): Focused solely on recruitment and promotion in the health sector.
