Administrative Reforms in Bangladesh

Abstract

This chapter discusses the structure of public administration and major administrative reform efforts in Bangladesh. It analyzes achievements and failures of administrative reforms in Bangladesh and also discusses barriers to administrative reform. Administrative reform is the administrative reorganization of the state institution that aims at rationalization of the administrative machinery, which improves the quality and capacity of civil service. The Administrative and Service Reorganization Committee and the National Pay Commission are the two major administrative reform committees of the first parliamentary government of Bangladesh. The Public Administration Reform Commission recommended the introduction of Citizen’s Charters in a number of public agencies. Most of the administrative reform efforts in Bangladesh have faced serious barriers, both internal and external in nature. Reform initiatives have frequently failed because these efforts promoted technical solutions when, in reality, the main obstacles to improve public administration are sociopolitical in nature.