Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has initiated a comprehensive performance assessment of cabinet ministers and state ministers, just a month after forming his government.
Sources indicate that the prime minister has made it clear that any form of negligence, delays, or disconnect with the public will not be tolerated. As part of this initiative, he conducted surprise inspections of various ministries at the Secretariat on Sunday, a practice expected to continue.
Multiple evaluation process
According to officials at the Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office, the evaluation goes beyond formal reports. The prime minister is gathering on-the-ground information through his advisors, senior bureaucrats, and intelligence agencies using specialized methods. Public opinion, including social media trends, newspaper coverage, and television reports, is also being monitored.
Each ministry has been instructed to submit a detailed work plan, which will be closely reviewed over the next 180 days. Officials describe this as a significant step toward enhancing accountability and improving governance.
Concerns over controversial remarks
Sources reveal that the prime minister has expressed displeasure with several ministers’ controversial or irrelevant statements made outside their ministerial portfolios. A perceived lack of coordination among ministers handling multiple key portfolios has also drawn criticism. To improve efficiency, a “one minister, one ministry” approach is reportedly under consideration.
Portfolio reassignments
The effects of the evaluation process are already visible. On March 25, a proclamation transferred the additional responsibilities of the Food Ministry from technocrat Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid to State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari. Rumors suggest that ministers managing multiple or large portfolios—such as Sheikh Rabiul Alam (Roads, Bridges, Rail, and Shipping), Khandaker Abdul Muktadir (Commerce, Industry, Textiles), Ariful Haque (Labor, Expatriate Welfare, Foreign Employment), Abu Zafar Md Zahid Hossain (Social Welfare and Women Affairs), and Fakir Mahbub Anam (Posts, Telecommunications, ICT)—may see their responsibilities reduced, with new ministers, state ministers, or advisers appointed.
Prime Minister engaging with grassroots
A senior Cabinet Division official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Dhaka Tribune that the Prime Minister frequently seeks direct updates on market conditions, rural law and order, and public perception from lower-level employees. On March 24, the first office day after the Eid holidays, he personally checked these matters with staff.
During the surprise inspections on March 29, administrative staff in the Commerce Ministry noted that the prime minister focused primarily on whether ministers and secretaries were present and actively performing their duties, rather than checking the attendance of general staff.
Expert and parliamentary views
Former Cabinet Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said, “Reassignments and monitoring of work in the Cabinet are part of a democratic system. It is natural for the prime minister, as the government’s overseer, to monitor everyone’s performance.”
ABM Mosharraf Hossain, Member of Parliament for Patuakhali-4, added, “The ultimate success or failure of the government rests with the prime minister. Reassigning responsibilities based on performance is routine governance.”
Currently, the 48-member cabinet includes 25 full ministers and 23 state ministers, with no deputy ministers. Three ministers are technocrats. The prime minister also has ten advisers, five at ministerial rank and five at state minister rank. Plans to expand the cabinet or appoint additional advisers are under consideration to further improve government efficiency.
