Bangladesh鈥檚 public administrative system remains stuck in the past, a relic of British colonial rule. The state machinery of a country mostly depends on bureaucracy which was originally designed to serve the foreign rulers during the British colonial period. But, unfortunately, bureaucracy in an independent state now appears more interested about protecting its own privileges than advancing the nation. Very old-fashioned methods of handling paperwork and communication create unnecessary drawbacks, slowing down the process of making decisions and holding back progress. Now Bangladesh鈥檚 bureaucracy not only requires a major overhaul but also needs to be decolonized urgently.
Despite several reform attempts taken by the previous governments, the core structure of the public services has hardly changed. The Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP), which evolved into Bangladesh鈥檚 public administration cadre, retained its elite status and privileged position. Since then this has created a bureaucratic 鈥榚lite鈥� class that sees itself as the guardians/masters of the state rather than as public servants. As a result, they always try to resist meaningful reforms that could challenge their authority and power. They think that the positive changes might disrupt their control over government operations or state machinery. In addition, the existing BCS exam system has been outdated. The candidates鈥� professional integrity and relevant social skills are not assessed in any form.
The colonial influence or impact on Bangladesh鈥檚 bureaucracy or civil service is still evident in many ways. District commissioners, for example, still live in grand colonial-era residences called bungalows and follow age-old traditions that appear backdated in a functional democracy. But this is not just about appearances鈥攊t reflects a major issue. The colonial system continues to treat citizens as subjects to be controlled by the district administrators or masters. The citizens are not allowed to act as active participants in local governance. This concentration of power in the hands of a few bureaucrats makes it harder for ordinary people to influence decisions that affect their lives.
One of the major problems in the country鈥檚 bureaucracy is 鈥榥oting system鈥� that causes unnecessary bureaucratic entanglement. The government office files must pass through multiple hands for comments and approvals before any action is taken. This confusing process loses time and money that could be used for better purposes, such as building schools, hospitals, and other infrastructures. Even now, the high-ranking officials (BCS admin cadre) often behave like masters or zaminders expecting their staff and the public to show them the same respect people did during the colonial period. This old style of thinking focuses more on strict rules than on getting things done and providing services to the citizens.
Another serious problem lies in the fact that the promotion system is old-fashioned and tends to prefer generalists instead of specialists. As a result, leadership roles often go to people who lack technical skills, leading to the creation of useless policies and bad decision or execution. This stops the country from having the skilled leaders needed to deal with today鈥檚 problems in specific areas of governance. Besides, the bosses are to prepare annual confidential report (ACR) for their subordinates or junior officers. This report is not objectively prepared; rather it is very subjective and conventional. The reports hardly help the government employees or civil servants find ways of professional improvement in terms of their efficiency and integrity.
This rigid system affects every aspect of the country鈥檚 development. Simple tasks, like getting a business permit or accessing land records, become complicated, and time-consuming. The whole procrastinating process is prone to system loss and corruption. Resistance to change has also slowed the adoption of e-governance. Instead of using technology to improve services, many bureaucrats view it as a threat to their excessive control over the state machinery. While other Asian countries have successfully implemented e-governance, Bangladesh is still struggling with endless delays and bureaucratic roadblocks. Of course e-governance system would make processes more transparent, potentially reducing corruption鈥攕omething many officials are not willing to risk.
The connection between this ineffective system and Bangladesh鈥檚 growth challenges is obvious. Although the country has improved in many ways, slow and complicated government processes are holding back economic growth, social progress, and public services. What makes this situation even more frustrating is how stubbornly the system resists change or reform. Many civil society members and intellectuals or experts term it an 鈥渋ron triangle鈥濃�攁 powerful alliance between politicians, bureaucrats, and business elites/tycoons鈥攚ho benefit from the current rotten system and work together to block meaningful reforms that could help improve governance in positive听manner.
However, there are signs of hope. A new group of civil servants, trained in modern management and aware of the best practices from around the world, is advocating for changes from within the system. Young leaders in local areas are changing how things are done by focusing on serving the community instead of trying to rule them. For Bangladesh to progress, it is important to make a strong effort to improve the public service. The government should focus on hiring and promoting people based on their skills and qualifications to make sure the best individuals lead the organizations. Besides, the government should effectively introduce e-governance to make operations smoother, increase speed, and reduce corruption. We need better ways for citizens to give feedback so that government leaders are held accountable and serve the people compassionately and respectfully.
The cost of maintaining the existing system is getting unsustainable. In a world where all nations compete in global economic race based on innovations, economic prosperity and adaptability, Bangladesh鈥檚 bureaucratic inefficiencies continue to threaten its economic growth and sustainable development goals. A citizen charter for every public or government organization needs to introduced, and services should be provided accordingly.
The real tragedy of Bangladesh鈥檚 bureaucratic entanglement is not just the wasted time and resources鈥攊t is the dream shattered along with opportunities lost. But with growing public demand for positive changes and reform-minded officials gaining influence, there is hope. The question is no longer whether change will come, but whether it will happen soon enough to meet the challenges of the 21st century. For millions of Bangladeshis that expected change cannot come soon enough. A system designed to serve colonial masters must be transformed into one that meets the aspirations of its citizens for an accountable, efficient, and responsive government. And, of course, the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, should take immediate strict measures to revamp the entire bureaucratic system of Bangladesh.
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Sheikh Nahid Neazy, associate professor, Department of English, Stamford University Bangladesh; Email: [email protected]