The public administration reform commission, in its full report published on Saturday, recommended cluster-based ministries to boost officials鈥� efficiency and skills.
According to the report, the ministries and departments responsible for law enforcement, public administration, and regulatory functions were proposed to be designated as statutory administrations.
The finance, industry and trade cluster will include the ministries and departments related to financial management, trade, industries, and economic planning.
The human resource and social development cluster will cover the ministries and departments overseeing education, health, social welfare and cultural affairs.
The physical infrastructure and communication cluster will consist of the ministries and departments involved in the development and maintenance of physical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, railways and housing.
The agriculture, regional development and environment cluster, although mentioning no specific ministries and departments, will be tasked with ensuring sustainable agriculture, regional development and environmental protection, according to the report.
It also recommended limiting the number of ministries and divisions with limiting the ministries to 25 from the current 43 and keeping divisions limited to 40 from the current 61.
The report said that the cluster system would benefit the officials to apply their expertise and training and to plan their career goals.
It was also recommended that the cadre officials, before joining the secretariat, would need to select an office within the cluster options. The selection would be irreversible for the rest of their career.
Regarding the Bangladesh Service Commission, the reform commission, instead of the unified BSC, has proposed 13 service commissions for sectors including administration, foreign, public security, accounts, engineering, education, health, information, and agriculture. It proposed the inclusion of the forest and environment sectors as a sub-service of the agriculture commission.
The commission also recommended the creation of separate Public Service Commissions for general, education, and health sectors.
It also recommended the formation of a 鈥楽uperior Executive Service鈥� with selected bureaucrats through competitive examinations, ranging from deputy secretaries to additional secretaries.
The report also recommended for appointing secretaries by a cabinet committee and 50 per cent quota for the non-administration cadre officials aspiring for deputy secretary posts. It added that the government might take the next steps after reviewing the sub-judice matter.
According to the commission鈥檚 recommended line promotions, the cabinet secretary would be the top post of the Superior Executive Service, while the 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.
