In the previous government, almost 95 percent of those appointed to the secretary and senior secretary positions were from the administrative cadre. Similarly, in the interim government, all those appointed on a contractual basis to the senior secretary and secretary positions are from the administrative cadre.
More than 90 percent of the current government's senior secretaries and secretaries were appointed during the previous government. Many of them are accused of being directly or indirectly involved in crimes committed under state patronage during the Awami League government's tenure. They are also blamed for contributing to the government's alienation from the people. There are allegations that this administrative cadre played an active role in activities that gave the previous government an autocratic character, from controversial elections to other actions.
There were particular complaints about senior government officials whose terms were extended through contractual appointments. Following the AL government's fall, there were also calls for their removal. In response, after the interim government took power, all contractual appointments made during the AL tenure were canceled across various ministries and departments. However, under the current government, at least six ministries and departments have now appointed new secretaries on a contractual basis, and all of these officials are from the administrative cadre.
On August 18, five ministries and departments appointed new secretaries contractually. These appointments included Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid to the Secondary and Higher Education Division, Mohammad Ehsanul Haque to the Road Transport and Highways Division, Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen to the Public Security Division, Dr. Nasimul Gani to the Public Division of the President's Office, and MA Akmal Hossain Azad to the Ministry of Railways. All five officials are from the 1982 regular batch of the BCS Administration Cadre. Similarly, on August 28, Mokhlesur Rahman was appointed Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration for two years. He is also from the same batch of the administrative cadre.
There are 26 service cadres for top officials of the Republic. These are Administration, Agriculture, Ansar, Audit and Accounts, Cooperatives, Customs and Excise, Family Planning, Fisheries, Food, Foreign Affairs, Forestry, General Education, Health, Information, Livestock, Police, Posts, Public Health Engineering, Public Works, Railway Engineering, Railway Transport and Commercial, Roads and Highways, Statistics, Tax, Technical Education, and Commerce. Among these, the Administrative Cadre is known as the most influential.
In the appointment or promotion of Deputy Secretary in the government, 75 percent of the quota is reserved for officials from the Administrative Cadre. In comparison, officials from the other 25 cadres fill the remaining 25 percent. Among these, officials from the Administrative Cadre must always fill the most influential positions, such as Cabinet Secretary, Chief Secretary, and Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office. Additionally, positions like Divisional Commissioner, District Commissioner, Additional District Commissioner, DD LG, and Zonal Settlement Officer are also part of the Administrative Cadre. Officials from the other 25 cadres can only be appointed to equivalent positions in ministries or less critical departments, directorates, and agencies under ministries.
There is considerable resentment among officials from all cadres besides the Administrative Cadre regarding this issue. To address grievances related to promotions, postings, the creation of new positions, and other demands, officials from the other 25 cadres have formed a coalition. The coalition is named the "Inter-Cadre Discrimination Elimination Council." It officially launched its activities with a press conference held at the DRU Auditorium in the capital last Saturday (August 31).
At the press conference titled "Whoever has the cadre controls the ministry, "the coalition's officials stated that top positions in any ministry or department must be assigned to officials from the respective cadre. They called for the cessation of appointments of Administrative Cadre officials to these positions. The coalition was formed not only to address discrimination within the BCS cadres but also to restructure the administration with the help of experts.
Analysts argue that the public expectations generated by the student-led uprising will not be fulfilled without reforming the government's bureaucracy. Instead, there remains a risk and concern that the end of one form of autocracy might lead to the rise of another.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), told Bonik Barta, "This is a long-standing administrative culture in Bangladesh's bureaucracy. There are various negative aspects, including partisanship and the maintenance of power. A process has been established to create absolute dominance within the administration, leading to inter-cadre discrimination. This has fostered a sense of resentment. Such a situation creates a risky area in our country's administrative activities and those of other countries. The student-led movement has brought forth the dream of a new Bangladesh. The core issue is eliminating discrimination. It must start with the administration to create a society free from discrimination at all levels. Discrimination in politics, governance, and bureaucracy needs to be addressed. If those in responsible positions do not learn this lesson, expectations will remain unfulfilled, and there will also be a risk of moving from one form of autocracy to another."
Experts say that significant reforms in Bangladesh's civil service have been stagnant for 27 years due to opposition from a segment of senior bureaucrats and a lack of political will. Over the past five decades since independence, more than two dozen initiatives for administrative reform have been undertaken. These include the formation of 16 commissions and committees. The reform initiatives have proposed a competent, merit-based, and service-oriented civil administration. Several reform proposals aimed at improving efficiency and transparency have been discussed for years.
According to relevant sources, government employees and officials have perceived reform initiatives over the past five decades, particularly senior bureaucrats, as threats to their positions, influence, benefits, and promotions. As a result, the government has failed to build a solid and effective civil service. Several recommendations from the commissions that were established have been implemented at various times, including increases in government employee salaries, the passing of the Civil Service Act 2018, and raising the retirement age of government employees from 57 to 59 years. However, no efforts have been made to implement the recommendations to eliminate discrimination.
Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of Citizens for Good Governance (SHUJON), told Bonik Barta, "To eliminate discrimination, a sense of justice is needed, and it must be ensured that no one is subjected to discrimination. The guiding principle here should be a sense of justice. There should be no bias or favoritism based on partisanship or other considerations. Those responsible or will make decisions should be expected to act with awareness and avoid injustices."
The most recent commission for administrative reform was established in 1997. This commission was led by former Secretary ATM Shamsul Haque and made several important short-, medium-, and long-term recommendations, most of which have not been implemented. Subsequently, in October 2019, the Ministry of Public Administration proposed the formation of another commission focused on service and development to create a new administrative structure. However, a committee led by the Cabinet Secretary did not agree to establish a new commission.
The administration is still operating under the framework recommended by the Enam Commission, established in 1982 under the leadership of then-Brigadier Inamul Haque Khan, appointed by the military dictator HM Ershad. In 2015, the Pay and Service Commission, led by Mohammed Farashuddin, recommended extensive reforms in civil administration based on contemporary international practices.
A government official, speaking anonymously, told Bonik Barta, "In the past, 55 percent of appointments were based on quotas, which caused many talented candidates to drop out. As a result, making the civil service merit-based was impossible. Additionally, the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) has lost its credibility due to repeated allegations of corruption against its members and officials. In the past, PSC chairpersons and members appointed by the government have favored their candidates for the administration and police cadres. This has led to a lack of merit in the civil service. The quality of the civil administration has continually declined due to politically motivated appointments."
Additionally, the selection of candidates through a 200-mark preliminary exam has been criticized for not considering academic contributions, reliance on memorizing guidebooks, mechanical answering, and varying types of questions in different interview boards, raising questions about the recruitment process. Training centers in the country follow traditional training methods, lacking international standard multidisciplinary training, case studies, problem-solving techniques, and e-learning elements.
Experts say that the politicization of civil servant promotions has rendered essential factors such as merit, qualifications, seniority, and rules of conduct ineffective. As a result, there is a significant deficit in government officials' mindsets regarding service.
He served as the Cabinet Secretary during the 2007-08 caretaker government led by army-backed Fakhruddin Ahmed, Ali Imam Majumder. He was known to be the key figure in reorganizing the Republic's civil administration then. This official retired in 2008. On August 12, he was appointed as a Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor of the current interim government. Later, on August 16, he took the oath as an advisor, replacing the previous personal assistant.
It has been reported that Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who is leading the interim government, is receiving assistance from him in reorganizing the civil administration. For this purpose, he is utilizing one of his former personal assistants.
The personal assistant in question worked in the Prime Minister's Office for nearly a decade. Most recently, he served as the Prime Minister's Office's Director General (Administration). This official, close to Chief Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus and Tofazzal Hossain Miah, also served as Ali Imam Majumder's assistant during the 2007-08. Like Ali Imam Majumder, he is also from the Administrative Cadre.
It has been found that the official is currently serving as the Director General of the Administration Division in the office of the Chief Advisor of the interim government. According to his LinkedIn profile, he was appointed Senior Assistant Secretary in the Local Government Division of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives from 2008 to 2009. After a lengthy stint at the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, he joined the Prime Minister's Office as a Director in 2015. He worked there for nearly a decade.
The recent changes in key positions such as secretaries, district commissioners, and police superintendents, orchestrated by Ali Imam Majumder and his former personal assistant, have already sparked considerable controversy. This situation is also damaging the image of the interim government.
When asked whether the current government has any plans to address this cadre discrimination at the high levels of government, Senior Secretary Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman of the Ministry of Public Administration told Bonik Barta, "I will listen to the issues regarding cadre discrimination and work on them. We have just started the process. Everything will be addressed in due course."