Nearly four decades after its establishment, the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) continues to operate without an approved organisational structure, creating persistent problems in recruitment, promotions, staffing and administrative accountability despite a significant expansion of its responsibilities.
Officials and employees say the absence of a comprehensive organogram has left the authority struggling with manpower shortages, widespread acting appointments and limited career progression, while forcing it to increasingly rely on temporary and outsourced personnel to sustain its operations.
BMDA has played a central role in irrigation, groundwater management and climate-resilient agriculture across northern Bangladesh through the expansion of irrigation facilities, reservoir construction, pond excavation, canal re-excavation, afforestation and other development programmes.
However, while the scope of its activities has grown substantially over the years, its administrative structure has failed to keep pace.
According to BMDA sources, the authority has continued to operate largely with the staffing framework developed when its activities were far more limited.
Although its programmes have expanded several-fold, corresponding permanent positions and a need-based organisational structure have yet to be established.
Officials say the lack of an approved organogram has delayed recruitment, promotions, postings and career planning while creating uncertainty in responsibility allocation and administrative decision-making.
Internal figures show that nearly 95 of BMDA’s 125 officers are currently serving in acting capacities. Many have continued to perform higher responsibilities for years without receiving formal promotions or the salary grades attached to those positions.
Even several project directors continue to receive salaries based on their substantive lower-ranked posts. Recruitment has also remained limited. Officials said BMDA last recruited personnel in 2003 and 2008.
While the organisation once employed around 1,250 officers and staff, the workforce has now fallen to 703, increasing dependence on outsourcing and temporary appointments.
According to sources, BMDA proposed an organisational structure comprising 1,911 positions to meet its operational requirements, but the ministry approved only 650 posts, leaving a significant gap between staffing needs and sanctioned positions.
Public administration experts say an organogram forms the institutional backbone of any government or autonomous organisation by defining staffing requirements, reporting lines, promotion pathways and accountability mechanisms.
Without it, institutions often become dependent on temporary arrangements and individual discretion rather than systematic governance.
They argue that BMDA’s role has become increasingly important as Bangladesh faces growing challenges from climate change, groundwater depletion and the need for sustainable agricultural practices.
Addressing these challenges, they say, will require a modern organisational structure incorporating engineers, agronomists, water resource specialists, environmental experts, information technology professionals and researchers.
A senior BMDA source also questioned whether previous leadership had demonstrated sufficient commitment to securing approval for the organogram, alleging that resistance from an influential group within the organisation has delayed the process for years. The allegation could not be independently verified.
Contacted for comment, BMDA Executive Director Abu Sayeed Md Kamruzzaman said he was actively pursuing approval of the proposal. “I am sincerely working on this issue. I discussed it with the ministry again today,” he said.
“I have heard there is a group that does not want the organogram to be approved. But it is necessary, and I am continuing my efforts to move the process forward.”
Officials and experts say that approving a comprehensive organogram, alongside updated recruitment and promotion policies, is essential for strengthening BMDA’s institutional capacity and enabling it to effectively address future challenges in agriculture, irrigation and water resource management across northern Bangladesh.
