BANGLADESH is set to graduate from the Least Developed Country category to middle-income status in November 2026. While this milestone should mark a moment of national celebration, unease dominates the conversation among economists, entrepreneurs and the wider public. The question is not whether Bangladesh merits this recognition, but whether its governance system, particularly its bureaucracy, is capable of managing the challenges that lie ahead.
The bureaucracy forms the backbone of any state. Yet in Bangladesh, it remains confined within outdated structures and colonial-era mindsets. Instead of evolving into a service-oriented and knowledge-driven institution, it has become increasingly rigid, inward-looking and resistant to reform. Nepotism, malpractice and excessive bureaucratic control have widened the gulf between public institutions and the private sector, slowing trade, investment and overall competitiveness.
Successive governments, including the current interim authority, have pledged reforms in public administration. Yet these promises remain unfulfilled. The resulting neglect has eroded public confidence and denied the country an opportunity to build a governance system capable of sustaining its middle-income ambitions. Bangladesh inherited a bureaucracy designed to serve colonial rulers, not its own citizens. Over fifty years after independence, that mindset persists. The civil service continues to regard itself as a privileged elite rather than as public servants accountable to the people. The gap between state and society widens with each passing year. Instead of empowering entrepreneurs, innovators and technical professionals, bureaucrats frequently act as gatekeepers; delaying, obstructing and dictating. Many believe that such elitism has stifled the nation鈥檚 potential at every level.
Bangladesh鈥檚 economic achievements, its ready-made garments, remittances and progress in food security, have been driven by its people, not its bureaucracy. Farmers have increased productivity, entrepreneurs have expanded exports and migrant workers have sustained the economy with their remittances. Too often, bureaucracy has stood in their way rather than beside them.
If Bangladesh is to thrive after graduation, it must confront an uncomfortable truth: bureaucratic elitism is not a strength but a weakness. It consumes resources, obstructs innovation and erodes public trust. The bureaucracy must abandon its self-perception as an untouchable elite and instead function as genuine servants of the people.
A particularly damaging feature of the current system lies in the way the central secretariat undermines specialised departments. Functional and technical agencies, such as those for health, environment, food safety, forestry and architecture, are often deprived of autonomy. Rather than empowering professionals with years of field experience, decisions are routinely dictated by generalist administrators who may lack even basic knowledge of these areas. This raises a critical question: how long can Bangladesh afford interference from non-experts in fields where specialisation is essential? Such practices drain motivation from professionals and cripple institutional capacity. The consequences are evident in national setbacks, in climate change management, food security, environmental protection, healthcare delivery and technological progress.
Another uncomfortable but necessary question concerns the number of secretariat officers. Are all of them essential for governance? Many positions appear duplicative, adding layers of cost without adding value. Overstaffing burdens the national budget and fosters a culture of unnecessary intervention in policy implementation. At a time when efficiency is vital, should taxpayers continue to shoulder the cost of an overextended bureaucracy?
The existing promotion system within public service is another serious flaw. It relies heavily on seniority rather than merit or performance. This structure not only stifles motivation among younger officers but also sidelines the expertise required for specialised national priorities. It is worth asking plainly: is the current promotion system advancing the country鈥檚 progress, or is it obstructing innovation and efficiency?
The experiences of countries such as Singapore, South Korea and Rwanda demonstrate that national growth and global competitiveness depend on a bureaucracy that is professional, merit-based and specialised. Bangladesh can no longer afford a system where bureaucracy serves itself rather than the public. Reform must be both urgent and far-reaching.
One troubling symptom of this dysfunction is the accelerating brain drain. Each year, thousands of Bangladesh鈥檚 most capable graduates choose to pursue careers abroad instead of joining domestic public service. The reason is clear: they see little scope for professional fulfilment in a system dominated by favouritism, lack of professionalism and limited opportunities for creativity. Does the current Bangladesh Civil Service examination system truly identify and recruit the right individuals for twenty-first-century governance? The design of the examination rewards rote memorisation rather than creativity, problem-solving and specialised knowledge. As a result, many talented and visionary candidates, those capable of driving innovation in agriculture, technology, health or environmental policy, are either excluded or discouraged from entering the service altogether.
The graduation from LDC status is not the end of a journey; it marks the beginning of a more demanding chapter. Bangladesh will have to compete globally without preferential treatment, relying solely on its institutional strength and human capital. The question, therefore, is stark: will the existing bureaucracy enable Bangladesh to rise, or will it drag the nation down at a decisive moment?
Bureaucratic reform is not a matter of preference now. Bangladesh鈥檚 entry into middle-income status will expose it to the full force of global competition. Without reform, bureaucratic elitism will undermine this transition, trapping the country in inefficiency and mediocrity. The time for polite discussions has passed.
The government must act decisively: dismantle elitism, reform bureaucracy and rebuild public administration into a system that values merit, expertise and public service. Otherwise, Bangladesh risks carrying the burden of a self-serving elite into its middle-income future, only to find that future slipping further away.
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Aranya Rahman is a policy analyst.
