The BNP government is under growing scrutiny after appointing party-affiliated individuals to key state institutions, including the central bank, local government bodies, and public universities.
Analysts warn that the pattern of appointments risks undermining institutional independence.
They argue that delivering the “new Bangladesh” promised in the party’s election manifesto requires prioritising merit over political loyalty.
Concerns escalated following the appointment of Mostaqur Rahman as governor of Bangladesh Bank. Rahman was previously listed as a member of BNP’s election steering committee, raising questions over potential conflicts of interest in a role expected to remain politically neutral.
Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, criticised the decision, saying the government should consider whether such an appointment is “prudent.”
“Appointing a member of the ruling party’s election steering committee to lead the central bank raises serious concerns,” he said. “It also contradicts the party’s own manifesto, which pledged good governance, discipline, oversight, and transparency in the banking sector.”
He added that Bangladesh’s financial system has historically suffered from political interference, citing issues such as loan defaults and capital flight. “The current government is well aware of how politically motivated decisions have weakened the banking sector,” he said.
Questions have also emerged over appointments at the local government level. The government has installed administrators to all 11 city corporations and 42 district councils instead of holding elections, despite earlier commitments to strengthen democratic representation.
According to BNP’s election manifesto, the party had pledged to establish people’s power “through direct voting at every level, from local government to parliament.”
However, observers note that, despite a relatively stable situation, elections have not been held and administrators have been installed instead.
Many of those appointed are known BNP leaders. Among the 42 district administrators, at least 10 individuals had previously contested parliamentary elections as BNP candidates and were defeated. Others include party leaders who were denied nominations or held key positions within local BNP structures.
A similar pattern is visible in city corporations. In recent appointments to Barishal, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Rangpur and Cumilla city corporations, all five administrators were identified as BNP office bearers.
Earlier, administrators appointed to Dhaka North and South city corporations, Khulna, Sylhet, Narayanganj and Gazipur also had direct or indirect ties to the party, including former candidates and leaders who were either defeated or sidelined during the elections.
Beyond local government, concerns are also emerging in the education sector. The government has recently appointed vice-chancellors to eight public universities, including the University of Dhaka. The chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) has also been appointed.
In at least seven universities, those appointed as vice-chancellors are either members of BNP or affiliated with pro-BNP teachers’ organisations.
The newly appointed chairman of the University Grants Commission, Professor Mamun Ahmed, previously served as an adviser to the BNP chairperson.
Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque defended the appointments when asked whether political considerations had influenced the selection process.
“Is it a crime for someone to be involved in politics?” he told reporters.
He added that academic qualifications and performance were given the highest importance in the selection of candidates.
Muhammad Shahadat Hossain Siddique, a professor at the University of Dhaka, said that while political considerations in appointments exist globally, Bangladesh has historically struggled to prioritise merit.
“Building a ‘new Bangladesh’ requires placing merit above political loyalty,” he said. “We are excessively divided along partisan lines, and we need to move away from that practice.”
He noted that gaps in competence become apparent when leadership positions in sectors such as banking and education are compared with international standards.
“The reality is, society already knows who is suitable for which role. If that judgment is not applied, then a fragile society will remain fragile,” he said. “To bounce back, we must bring in those who are truly capable and give them responsibility.”
Siddique also warned that without a competitive environment in appointments, meaningful reform would be difficult. “If competent individuals are not prioritised, the same patterns we saw under previous governments will continue,” he added.
Opposition parties have accused the government of attempting to bring local governance under its direct control by appointing party-affiliated administrators.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said the Local Government Ministry appointed party figures as administrators across 42 district councils through a single gazette notification, claiming the newly formed BNP government has positioned itself against public will from the very start.
He argued that local government being run by elected representatives is a fundamental pillar of democracy, and that bypassing this process in favour of appointed administrators amounts to a direct attack on voting rights and representative governance.
Sarjis Alam, chief organiser of National Citizen Party (NCP) for the northern region, called the appointments “completely undemocratic” and demanded immediate local government elections under the elected government. He called this the first step on the road to authoritarianism.
As the government moves forward with its administrative agenda, experts say the extent to which it can balance political considerations with institutional independence will be critical in shaping public trust and the future of governance in Bangladesh.
