Speakers at a dialogue on Tuesday emphasized the need to strengthen the local government system to ensure an effective civil administration in the country.
The event, titled "Dialogue for Democratic Reconstruction on Civil Administration" was organized by the Center for Governance Studies (CGS) at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital.
Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, speaking as the guest of honour, stressed the urgent need to strengthen local government to establish an effective civil administration.
He cautioned against allowing politically affiliated professional organizations within the civil administration, noting that such affiliations place political pressure on bureaucratic decision-making.
He also highlighted the need to end the culture of flattery within the administration, stating that it fosters politicization among bureaucrats.
Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman observed that remnants of the colonial administrative system still persist, likening it to the traditional East-India Company model.
He suggested that decentralizing administration and increasing accountability among bureaucrats could bring a positive shift and improve public service delivery.
Reflecting on the mass uprising of July and August, he called for state reforms, with active participation from the interim government, political parties and the public, to leverage the opportunities created by the movement.
The speakers underscored the importance of depoliticizing the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC), decentralizing administration from the secretariat and building a positive mindset to reform the bureaucratic system.
They also proposed introducing a public feedback mechanism to allow citizens to provide valuable input on ministry functions, enabling the administration to better address public aspirations.
The dialogue concluded with a unanimous call for reforms to rebuild a more transparent, accountable and people-oriented civil administration.
