Bureaucrats, who assume multiple roles as administrators, politicians and businesspeople, pose a significant challenge to ensuring good governance, observed Debapriya Bhattacharya, convenor of Citizen鈥檚 Platform and distinguished fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue.
Speaking at the concluding session of the Citizen鈥檚 Conference 2024 on Monday, he pointed out that such shifting roles erode accountability and trust.
鈥楢 bureaucrat today turns into a politician tomorrow and a businessman the day after. This multiplicity of roles has become a problem,鈥� Debapriya remarked at the session titled 鈥楶eople-centric Reform for Good Governance: Aspirations of Disadvantaged Communities.鈥�
The event was hosted at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital Dhaka and was organised by Citizen鈥檚 Platform for SDGs Bangladesh, with support from the United Nations Development Programme and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
Economist and public policy analyst Debapriya emphasised that these overlapping roles often converged in a single individual, blurring the lines of governance.
Debapriya said that, according to a survey, bureaucrats consistently emerged as a dominating force, a sentiment that was echoed in discussions held across different regions of Bangladesh.
Addressing the need for robust local governance, Debapriya proposed formation of an independent commission dedicated to strengthening local government institutions.
He opined that such a body could prevent arbitrary dismissal of elected representatives on trivial grounds and ensure equitable budget allocations for local government entities.
Debapriya also recommended withdrawal of provisions allowing political parties to use electoral symbols, stating that this step could depoliticise local elections and enhance their transparency.
Adding to the dialogue, Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh and chief of the Anti-Corruption Commission Reform Commission, criticised the ineffectiveness of anti-corruption bodies.
He said that institutions tasked with combating corruption were compromised by undue influence from the government and bureaucracy.
鈥楢nti-Corruption Commission cannot eliminate corruption singlehandedly. The entire populace must raise their voices against it,鈥� Iftekharuzzaman emphasised.
The two-day conference, held from December 8 to 9, brought together experts, policymakers and representatives from marginalised communities to deliberate on reforms aimed at fostering good governance.