The interim government is struggling to fill key bureaucratic posts as major political parties lobby to place officials loyal to their interests, raising concerns about maintaining a neutral administration ahead of the national election.
Since coming to power, the interim government has pledged to reform the bureaucracy. Experts warn that the ongoing push by parties to plant loyalists could undermine that promise, while delays in appointments are affecting public service delivery. The scramble has left many government offices understaffed or temporarily without leadership, creating uncertainty across ministries and field administrations.
High-profile appointments have been particularly slow. It took 21 days to appoint the secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, while lower-profile posts remain unfilled or delayed. Observers say the pace of appointments risks disrupting services and undermining public confidence in the administration.
Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government after the student-led uprising in August 2024, the public administration entered a state of disarray. The interim government has taken action against officials allegedly loyal to the previous regime while promoting others who had been sidelined. This reshuffle left many experienced officials out of key posts, while those from less influential positions moved forward.
BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami have criticised the interim government for allegedly favouring rival party loyalists.
Road Transport Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, a member of the Public Administration Committee overseeing appointments of deputy commissioners and above, admitted that political pressures are affecting decision-making.
“Political parties want their [loyal] candidates to be appointed to important positions,” he told The Daily TIMES of Bangladesh.
“A group of bureaucrats also want to get appointed at important positions with the blessing of the political parties,” said the policymaker.
Despite these pressures, he insisted the interim government is committed to neutrality:
“We will follow the policy of neutrality in making administrative appointments without being biased toward any political party.”
Public administration experts, however, criticised the government for wavering under pressure.
“The government cannot make decisions of its own,” said former secretary AKM Abdul Awal Mazumder. “When political parties put pressure, the interim government is at a loss.
The government must find efficient and honest officials in key positions to make the election free and fair.”
When contacted by TIMES, senior leaders from both parties denied exerting any pressure.
BNP Standing Committee Member Selima Rahman said: “Why would we put pressure? We have never pressured anyone to place people in the administration. If anyone claims otherwise, it is not true. BNP has never done such things, and we will not do so.
We have told the interim government that if the upcoming election is to be free, fair, and impartial, this government must act in the role of a caretaker administration. If there are any controversial or fascist figures in the administration, they must be removed. The main point is that neutral officials must be appointed.”
Jamaat Media and Publicity Secretary Matiur Rahman Akanda also denied the allegations: “We are not proposing any specific individuals. We are proposing to appoint neutral officials in the important posts to make the election fair and free. We are not pressuring to appoint officials loyal to our party.”
