The public administration reform commission on Wednesday proposed major structural changes, including the creation of four provinces, two new administrative divisions and a ‘capital city government’.
Key recommendations for administrative reforms also include the establishment of a superior executive service comprising meritorious bureaucrats, formation of three Public Service Commissions and the restructuring of the Bangladesh Civil Service into 13 separate services.
The commission, headed by former bureaucrat Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, submitted its recommendations to interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Addressing the report handover ceremony, Muyeed explained the rationale for creating four provinces, magistrate courts at upazila level, citizen committees at the grassroots, strengthening upazila parishads and union parishads, saying that almost all the power seemed to have concentrated in the centre that should be transferred to the local government.
Aiming to establish good governance and ensure citizens’ legal rights, the reform commission prepared its short- mid- and long-term recommendations divided into 17 chapters.
The report summary mentions the major recommendations for decentralisation—the creation of provincial governments dividing Bangladesh in four parts, making Cumilla and Faridpur two new administrative divisions, a capital city government comprising Dhaka city and its outskirts Tongi, Keraniganj, Savar and Narayanganj districts.Â
The commission has also recommended deactivation of zila parishad and strengthening of upazila and union parishads, creation of citizen committees at all districts and upazilas and the establishment of magistrate courts at upazila level.
The commission also recommended renaming of the current designation of ‘deputy commissioner’ as ‘district magistrate and district commissioner’ combining the dual responsibilities of the position. It also recommends renaming of ‘upazila nirbahi officer’ as ‘sub-district commissioner’.
Regarding the Bangladesh Service Commission, the reform commission, instead of currently the unified Bangladesh Service Commission, has proposed 13 separate service commissions for sectors including, administration, foreign, public security, accounts, engineering, education, health, information, and agriculture. It has proposed forest and environment as agriculture’s sub-service commission.Â
The commission also recommends three separate Public Service Commissions for general, education, and health.
Formation of the ‘Superior Executive Service’ with competitively selected bureaucrats, ranging from deputy secretaries to additional secretaries, has als been recommended.
The summary report also contains recommendations for appointing secretaries by a cabinet committee, a 50 per cent quota for the non-administration cadre officials aspiring for deputy secretary posts, adding that the government might take next steps reviewing the still sub judice matter.Â
According to the commission’s recommended line promotions, cabinet secretary would be the top post of the Superior Executive Service, while chief commissioner would hold the top post of Bangladesh Administrative Service and the top officials of the other fields would be the chiefs of related services.
However, the commission recommends 5 per cent of the joint secretary and wing chief posts for eligible professionals out of the Superior Executive Service.
It also recommends limiting the number of ministries and divisions with limiting ministries to 25 from current 43, while keeping divisions limited to 40 from current 61.
The commission further proposes the merger of the local government engineering department and public health engineering department. Merger of the Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority, Economic Zone Authority and Investment Development Bureau has also been recommended.Â
The commission proposes the inclusion of the information and communication division to the science and technology ministry; and the land registration department to the land ministry.
Three separate departments for income tax; duty and excise; and VAT have been recommended.
Moreover, the commission proposes the appointment of administrative ombudspersons and creation of an independent inquiry commission to hold government officials accountable. Dope test for the new recruits in the public service, recruitment of non-cadre lower grade employees by provincial government have also been recommended.
The cancellation of the provision for retirement at 25 years of service—either being forced by the government or self-willed retirement, police verification before getting passport, car loan and maintenance allowance for deputy secretaries, were among the recommendations. However, the commission has proposed 15 years as the minimum service tenure for self-willed retirement.Â
Asked to comment on the recommendations, former president of Bangladesh Administrative Service Association, Anwar Ullah, told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that the report seemed rather theoretical than practical.Â
‘The summary report lacks guidelines on addressing the existing challenges. Only sorting recommendations in short- mid- and long-term won’t be enough,’ Anwar said.
Commission chief Muyeed, while observing that public administration reforms were not an one-shot affair, said, ‘That’s why we recommend a permanent public service reform commission’.
