Nearly two weeks after sweeping changes at the top levels of the country’s civil administration, at least ten secretary-level positions in key ministries and state institutions remain vacant, raising questions about the pace of the new government’s bureaucratic restructuring.
Officials say the government is continuing a broader administrative reshuffle and that more changes are likely in the coming days.
However, some civil servants suggest the delay reflects the government’s search for trusted officials who are aligned with its political outlook.
The vacancies emerged after the Ministry of Public Administration cancelled the contractual appointments of nine secretaries and senior secretaries who had been appointed during the interim government. The decision was announced in a notification issued on 23 February.
On the same day, three other secretaries were transferred and attached to the public administration ministry, leaving several important posts unfilled.
At present, four ministries or divisions are operating without a designated secretary. No appointment has yet been made to the powerful post of secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, and Information and Communication Technology Division are also without permanent secretaries.
Beyond the ministries, several high-level positions in state institutions remain vacant.
Three secretary-rank member posts in the Planning Commission are unfilled, while the position of alternate executive director representing Bangladesh at the World Bank has also not been filled. The chairmanship of the Land Appeal Board and the post of director general of the National Academy for Planning and Development are similarly vacant.
The situation comes as BNP-led government, headed by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, seeks to reorganise the bureaucracy after taking power following years outside government.
Although the ruling party pledged in its election manifesto to avoid political considerations in administrative appointments, analysts say governments in the country have historically tended to prioritise officials perceived to be politically sympathetic.
Professor Sadik Hasan of the Department of Public Administration at the University of Dhaka believes the delay may partly reflect the government’s attempt to identify officials it can rely on.
“BNP has been out of power for around 20 years,” he said. “It is trying to understand who can effectively carry out its policies and who can be trusted. In my view, that is one of the reasons behind the delay.”
He also noted that the prime minister had spent a long period outside the country, which could have added to the challenge of identifying suitable candidates for senior administrative posts.
Hasan warned that prolonged vacancies at the top of ministries can create administrative difficulties. Without a secretary, he said, routine work can be disrupted and important policy decisions may be delayed.
At the same time, senior officials eligible for promotion may find themselves uncertain about their prospects.
He added that governments often give preference to officials perceived to support their policies, believing they are more effective in implementing political commitments.
Some officials within the administration echo this assessment. One additional secretary, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the new government wants to appoint officials who share BNP’s ideological outlook.
“The government wants officials who believe in BNP’s political philosophy so they can help implement the party’s electoral promises,” the official said.
Public administration experts argue, however, that the government should adhere to its election pledge to ensure that appointments, postings and promotions are based solely on merit and professional competence.
Former secretary AKM Abdul Awal Mazumder said the government appeared to be taking time to avoid making rushed decisions about key appointments.
“The government does not want to make mistakes by acting too quickly,” he said. “That is why it is taking time.”
He contrasted the current approach with the tenure of the interim administration, when some appointments were reportedly made and cancelled within the same day.
Under its election manifesto, BNP pledged to build what it described as a “meritocratic Bangladesh”, promising that merit, integrity, creativity, efficiency, experience and training would be the sole criteria for recruitment, transfer and promotion in both civil and military administration.
State Minister for Public Administration Abdul Bari has also indicated that significant changes are likely as part of the government’s effort to reorganise the administration. However, he did not confirm whether a major reshuffle would take place this week.
Responding to questions from TIMES of Bangladesh about the delay in filling the ten secretary-level positions, and allegations that the government is searching for officials sympathetic to BNP, Bari rejected the suggestion.
“There is nothing like looking for BNP-minded officials,” he said. “This is an ongoing process. The appointments will be made.”
He added that the prime minister had made it clear that integrity, competence and merit would be the only criteria in selecting senior officials.
Bari also insisted that political affiliation would not be considered in transfers or postings and that the government would implement the commitments outlined in its election manifesto.
Meanwhile, intense lobbying is reportedly underway among senior bureaucrats seeking influential posts in the new administration. A leader of the administration cadre said various influential figures were approaching the Ministry of Public Administration to advocate on behalf of certain officials.
Civil servants, speaking anonymously, say that being identified with a particular political party can sometimes bring advantages while that party is in power.
However, such associations can also create risks when governments change.
“If you are known to belong to a particular political camp, you may get good postings when that party is in power,” one official said.
“But when a new government comes, there is always the risk of being made an officer on special duty or facing other problems.”
The current reshuffle also follows major administrative changes made during the tenure of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
In its first six months, the interim administration forced 19 senior secretaries, secretaries and officials with equivalent rank into retirement. It also made 25 officials of secretary or equivalent rank and 51 additional secretaries officers on special duty (OSD), effectively sidelining them.
Several other officials were later placed on OSD status as well.
During that period, critics alleged that officials perceived as opposed to the Awami League government were appointed to important positions. The interim administration also recruited officials from the long-controversial 1982 BCS batch who had claimed they were previously deprived of opportunities, a move that some analysts said contributed to administrative complications.
As the new BNP-led government continues its restructuring, officials across ministries — from mid-level to senior ranks — are reportedly trying to secure positions in the emerging administrative order.
Retired bureaucrats are also said to be using political contacts in an attempt to return to influential roles.
For years, appointments, postings and promotions in Bangladesh’s civil administration have faced allegations of political influence, particularly during the tenure of the Awami League government.
Analysts say the coming weeks will reveal whether the new government can fulfil its pledge to move the bureaucracy towards a system based primarily on merit rather than political loyalty.
