Public admin at odds over reform recommendations

Dissatisfaction is brewing within the public administration over the recommendations of the Public Administration Reform Commission, with various cadre officials opposing measures they believe undermine their interests.

The backlash has led to public statements, protests, and even conflicts among different groups. 

Members of the Public Administration Reform Commission argue that their recommendations prioritise national and public interests over narrow group benefits.

They emphasise that addressing long-standing inequalities in the administration requires all stakeholders to support reforms aligned with the spirit of the July Uprising. 

The Public Administration Reform Commission, initially an eight-member body later expanded to include three more members, was formed on October 3 to create a people-oriented, accountable, efficient, and impartial public administration system.

Led by Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, a former chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and adviser to the a caretaker government, the commission was initially given 90 days to submit its report. After three extensions, the final report was submitted to Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus on February 5. 

The report, structured into 17 chapters, includes over 200 recommendations under 14 headings, categorised by implementation timelines: short-term (six months), medium-term (one year), and long-term. 

Commission member and former additional secretary Dr Md Hafizur Rahman Bhuyan told Jago News, "We have prepared our report, now people will examine its pros and cons. When we do any work, some people benefit, while others might not meet their expectations. However, some people may have expectations, but how reasonable those are should also be considered."

He continued, "We have tried to protect the interests of the country above all else. We have not considered the interests of any individual, group, or community as paramount. We have not been able to move forward much as a nation; we are wandering in one place. Because of this, many have had to make sacrifices. If we cannot implement this sacrifice, that reform, then it has not happened. So, we have worked with the country's interests in mind. Many might feel they have been deprived."

"We have to see how the country can move forward better so that no authoritarian government can oppress it anymore. Besides, if those meant to serve the people end up torturing them, then it will not do," said Hafizur Rahman Bhuyan.

However, the recommendations have faced significant opposition from groups like the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association (BASA) and the Inter-Cadre Inequality Elimination Council, which represents 25 cadre services.

These groups have publicly criticized and protested against several proposals. 

BASA strongly opposes the recommendation to reduce the reservation for administration cadre officers in Deputy Secretary promotions from 75 per cent to 50 per cent, arguing that it contradicts a 2016 Supreme Court ruling. The opinion of the Public Administration Reforms Commission is in conflict with the matter settled in the High Court, said the association.

Similarly, the Inter-Cadre Inequality Elimination Council has demanded 100 per cent open competition for Deputy Secretary positions, rejecting the commission’s suggestions on cadre naming and structuring. 

Specific cadre associations, such as BCS (Statistics), BCS (Family Planning), and BCS (Information-General), have also expressed dissatisfaction, claiming their sectors were either overlooked or proposed for restructuring in ways that harm their roles and identities. 

Officials of the BCS (Statistics) cadre have strongly opposed the Public Administration Reform Commission’s restructuring recommendations, citing the exclusion of various cadre services.

In a recent protest letter, the BCS (Statistics) Cadre Association criticized the commission's report for marking their cadre as "not applicable" in the proposed restructuring. The association called this move a short-sighted and discriminatory attempt to render the professionally specialized cadre, established in 1980, ‘non-existent’.

"This recommendation contradicts the interim government’s commitment to eliminating discrimination and fostering a people-friendly public administration," the statement read. Officials argue that excluding talented statisticians from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) undermines the country’s efforts to build a data-driven governance structure.

The association also noted the absence of reform proposals for the BCS (Family Planning) general cadre, stating that the hopes for fairness and inclusivity sparked by the July 24 revolution have been dimmed by this report.

Meanwhile, BCS (Information-General) cadre officials have objected to the commission’s recommendation to merge ‘General,’ ‘Events,’ and ‘News’ services into a single Bangladesh Information Service. The BCS Information Association warned that combining these distinct fields could lead to inefficiency due to their differing job responsibilities.

Additionally, the association opposed merging Bangladesh Betar (state radio) with the BCS (Information-General) cadre, calling it an illogical move that does not serve public interest. Instead, they suggested establishing a separate ‘Broadcasting Service’ for Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television to better align with their respective administrative roles.

However, the BCS Information General Information Officers Welfare Association strongly condemned the BCS Information Association’s objections, dismissing them as unprofessional and frivolous. This sharp internal dispute highlights the growing tensions surrounding the reform commission’s restructuring proposals.

To address the discord, a National Consensus Commission was formed on February 12 under Dr Muhammad Yunus. Its goal is to engage with political parties and stakeholders to build consensus on implementing reforms proposed by various commissions, including public administration.