The election manifestos of the two principal rivals in the 12 February election —BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami — offer few new ideas on reforming public administration, with analysts warning that implementation of the pledges will remain the biggest challenge.
Both parties have placed public administration reform high on their election agendas, promising meritocracy, accountability and people-friendly governance. However, public administration experts argue that similar commitments were made repeatedly in the past, only to be abandoned once parties assumed power.
On Friday, BNP chairperson Tarique Rahman unveiled the party’s election manifesto, Bangladesh First, at a hotel in the capital, pledging a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s public administration. The manifesto outlines a vision of a merit-based and accountable administrative system, free from political influence.
Among its key promises, the BNP has pledged to recruit five lakh government employees through a transparent and speedy process, introduce a new pay scale, establish an “Administrative Reform Commission”, and build a people-oriented public administration. The party has also committed to enacting a Civil Service Act in line with the constitution and strengthening the Public Service Commission (PSC).
For decades, Bangladesh’s public administration has faced allegations of politicisation, with officials accused of aligning themselves with ruling parties. During the past 15 years of Awami League rule, critics say the administration and law enforcement agencies accumulated excessive power, often sidelining even elected representatives. Several lawmakers raised concerns in the Jatiya Sangsad about the conduct of field-level officials, alleging undue interference and lack of accountability.
According to analysts, administrative officials during this period often acted as though they were instrumental in bringing the government to power and sustaining it. In return, many benefited from favourable postings, promotions and privileges. The BNP manifesto claims it seeks to break away from this entrenched culture.
The manifesto states that merit will be the sole criterion for recruitment, transfer and promotion across civil and military administration, based on integrity, competence, efficiency and experience. It also notes that more than five lakh government positions remain vacant across ministries and agencies, pledging to fill them quickly through a fully transparent process.
However, critics point out that the BNP manifesto lacks specificity in some crucial areas. While it promises a new pay scale, it does not provide a clear timeline for implementing the recommendations of the Pay Commission formed during the interim government, stating only that the new structure will be introduced “in due course”.
The party argues that administrative reforms undertaken by the interim government are inadequate and proposes forming a high-powered Administrative Reform Commission comprising experienced professionals to lead restructuring efforts. It also promises to introduce e-governance at all levels, enhance training at home and abroad, and ensure fair benefits for private-sector employees through a Private Service Rules framework.
Public administration expert and former secretary AKM Abdul Awal Majumder said such promises have become a familiar feature of election manifestos.
“Political parties have repeatedly made attractive commitments to meritocracy and reform, but once in power, recruitment, postings and promotions tend to favour party loyalists,” he said. “As a result, these promises often lose all meaning.”
While expressing cautious optimism, Majumder said real change could only be judged by actual implementation rather than pre-election assurances.
Jamaat-e-Islami has also devoted significant space to public administration reform in its manifesto — Towards a Safe and Humane Bangladesh. The party has pledged to establish a transparent, professional and accountable administrative system, emphasising good governance and public service delivery.
Jamaat’s manifesto includes proposals to introduce online grievance redress mechanisms in all offices, ensure regular public engagement by responsible officials, and expand digital and artificial intelligence-based services to bring government facilities closer to citizens. A central e-governance portal would allow citizens to access multiple services through a single account.
The party has also promised one-stop service centres, full digitalisation of government transactions, and strict anti-corruption measures, including CCTV installation in offices. It has pledged to modernise administrative infrastructure and introduce a new pay structure from the next fiscal year.
Jamaat further promises to reduce delays in government recruitment processes, complete all recruitment within one year, waive application fees for government jobs, and ensure that merit and competence — rather than political allegiance — determine recruitment and promotion. Separate public service commissions for health and education cadres have also been proposed.
Despite the detailed pledges, experts remain sceptical. Dhaka University Professor of Public Administration Sadik Hasan said there is little substantive difference between the manifestos of the two parties.
“I see no real novelty in these promises, and implementation will be extremely difficult,” he said. According to Professor Hasan, resistance from within the administration, combined with political pressures after elections, often undermines reform efforts.
“A system has developed within the administration that no political party can effectively operate without relying on it,” he added. “This makes meaningful reform far more complicated than manifesto promises suggest.”
As voters assess competing visions ahead of the election, analysts agree on one point: without political will and sustained oversight after the polls, ambitious promises of administrative reform are likely to remain confined to paper rather than transforming governance on the ground.
