Bureaucracy
in Bengladesh
Nidhu Bhusan Das
The Government of Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh faces a challenge to fill in the vacancies following the retirement of top bureaucrats who imbibe the spirit of the Liberation War. These bureaucrats help the Prime Minister implement the agenda of bringing about a resurgent and
Bureaucracy in Bangladesh, for different reasons, is politicized to a significant extent. After the assassination of the Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, fondly called Bangabandhu, on 15 August 1975, the new nation remained under military rule till 1990. The military rulers depended on the support of the civil bureaucracy, and in lieu of the support the civil bureaucracy strengthened its position. The military and dictatorial rule ended in 1990 with the widow of the assassinated President Ziaur Rahman, Begum Khaleda Zia winning the parliamentary elections and becoming Prime Minister with the support of the Islamic party Jamat-e-Islami. Her rule saw a massive politicization of the bureaucracy.
The primary emphasis was placed on recruiting “party men bureaucrats”. Besides, it is alleged; candidates with links to student wings of the ruling party and its ally Jamat-e-Islami were recruited. On February 8, 1992, the government decided to promote as many as 654 officials, which created a lot of controversy.
In 1996, a number of senior bureaucrats were directly involved in a movement to remove a democratically elected government. In 2001, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party returned to power and had since tried to maintain firm control over the bureaucracy, making it highly politicized. The government appointed 978 officials as “Officer on Special duty” (OSD). The rule of seniority was, allegedly, circumvented to serve the political interest of the ruling party. 493 officials were promoted to the post of Deputy Secretary depriving 322 on February 10 and 16, 2003. On August 27, 2003, 97 were promoted to the post of Additional Secretary depriving 104 and 49 were promoted to the post of Joint Secretary depriving 277 on August 27, 2003. 61 were promoted depriving 31 on March 5, 2005. 378 Senior Assistant Secretaries were promoted to the post of Deputy Secretary depriving around 200 others on January 26, 2006. 153 Deputy Secretaries were elevated to the post of Joint Secretary on July 13 2006, depriving around 100 eligible officers.
A number of civil servants directly participated in political activities and sought nomination to participate in the upcoming elections. For instance, a civil servant appointed on contractual basis after his retirement was known to be involved in active politics and was projecting himself as a candidate of the ruling party. Thus the top bureaucracy was packed with civil servants favoured by and loyal to the BNP-Jamat combine, it is alleged.
Now, of the 74 secretaries,50 percent are said to be aligned to BNP-Jamat camp,25 percent always tend to be with the party in power and the rest 25 percent go with the spirit and ideology of the Liberation War of 1971.
Political analysts in Dhaka say, in a couple of years, bureaucrats endowed with the spirit of the Liberation War are going to be few and far between in Bangladesh. Specifically, BCS officers up to1984 batch, by and large, have the spirit. Some of them are already retired. Some got extension for two years on January 26, 2006.The analysts say, it is imperative that the pro-liberation officers be kept in positions of decision making and power till subsequent recruits having the historical sense and spirit of the Liberation War are found capable to deal with the fundamentalist elements in the post-1984 bureaucrats who are thoroughly imbibed with the idea of an Islamic State. The Muslim bureaucrats of the pre-1985 BCS are secular because they have seen or taken part in the War in different forms and manners.
About 20 secretaries are serving on extension. When the extension period is over, there may not be enough personnel suitable to fill in the vacancies, say the analysts. Those who are retired may be brought to different positions by way of nominations for implementing the agenda of the present government to bring about a qualitative change in the governance and polity which the Hasina Government is set to do, the secular and pro-liberation intellectuals of the capital opine.
The Government appears to be aware of the situation. Meanwhile, Dr. Mohammad Sadique has been brought as the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, and Mr Ujjwal Bikash Datta and Mr. Abul Kalam Azad are made its members after retirement. Mr. Hasan Mahmood Khandakar, former IGP have been made the Ambassador of Bangladesh in Spain, Mr. Abdul Mannan Hawladar, former secretary, is now Ambassador to Mauritius, Mr. Sobhan Sikdar, former Secretary, Establishment, is now Ambassador to Rome. Mr. Mikhail Shipar, former Secretary has been given extension like some other secretaries, inter alia, Mr. Sayeed Manjurul Islam, Mr. Mohammad Alauddin. They are all efficient bureaucrats and are of immense value to the present Government. Mr. Mollah Wahiduzzaman, former PS to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was upgraded to the position of the Chairman of the Privatization Board with the status of a State Minister. He served in that position till 31st August last with authority and efficiency. Such former bureaucrats, it appears, are thought to be assets of the present dispensation in Bangladesh.
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