The enduring dominance of the country’s bureaucracy over political leadership was felt at nearly every step in 2025, despite sweeping promises by the Muhammad Yunus–led interim government to establish a merit-based, neutral and accountable civil service following the student-led mass uprising of 2024.
Throughout the year, the bureaucracy appeared to consolidate its influence in the absence of an elected political leadership. It was repeatedly accused of reluctance in implementing government instructions and of emerging as a major obstacle to reform initiatives. Analysts argue that such hesitation and institutional confusion would likely subside once an elected government assumes office and succeeds in rebuilding trust with civil service officials.
Posting, promotion and political pressure
Posting and promotion decisions dominated the relationship between the interim government, political parties and the bureaucracy throughout the year. With a general election approaching, major political parties continued to pressure bureaucrats to position their loyal officials in influential administrative posts.
In January, the interim government formed an advisory committee to recommend appointments of senior officials ranging from joint secretary to senior secretary. As officials perceived to be loyal to the Awami League were sidelined, both BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami mounted pressure on the committee to secure key administrative positions for their own supporters ahead of the election.
The contest over control became so intense that the interim government delayed for two weeks the appointment of a secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration—the most crucial ministry overseeing civil administration. The delay created uncertainty across other ministries and underscored the growing tug-of-war over bureaucratic authority.
The fallout extended beyond the secretariat to the field administration. In several districts, government orders posting district commissioners were issued and later withdrawn, reflecting indecision and mounting pressure from competing political interests.
Amid persistent allegations of biased postings and promotions from major political parties, the interim government eventually restored the authority of selecting candidates for posting and promotion to the bureaucracy itself. With the approval from the Council of Advisers, the Cabinet Division scrapped the advisory committee. The high-powered body was ultimately dissolved following allegations from BNP and Jamaat that political considerations were influencing administrative decisions ahead of the general election.
Accountability systems dismantled, replacements delayed
Under the previous Awami League government, the Annual Performance Agreement (APA) system had been introduced to enhance transparency and accountability across ministries and agencies. The framework shifted governance from a process-oriented approach to a results-based one, tying public servants’ performance to measurable targets aligned with national priorities, including the Sustainable Development Goals.
After the interim government took office, the APA system was scrapped, leaving public institutions without a structured accountability mechanism. A senior Cabinet Division official told TIMES of Bangladesh that the government later initiated steps to replace APA with a new framework called the Governance Performance Monitoring System (GPMS), though its implementation remained pending.
Since assuming office in 2024, the interim government appointed numerous officials to senior positions—including at secretary level—many of whom had reportedly been sidelined during the Awami League’s 15-year rule. However, concerns soon emerged over their administrative efficiency.
Many of these officials had retired at the rank of deputy secretary and lacked experience working as joint or additional secretaries. According to a joint secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration, speaking on condition of anonymity, this gap left some unable to process files efficiently or take swift decisions on urgent public interest matters. The broader administration, the official said, was forced to shoulder the burden of this inefficiency, with no mechanism to remove underperforming officials during the interim government’s tenure.
Low morale and incentives without follow-through
Compounding the challenges was a widespread sense of uncertainty within the civil service. Many officials appeared disengaged, believing the interim government would not remain in power for long and that an elected political administration would eventually take over after the election.
In an effort to boost morale, the government announced initiatives to purchase new vehicles for field-level officials and established a National Pay Commission to review public sector salaries. However, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed later reversed course, stating that any pay rise would be implemented by the next elected government.
The reversal further deepened frustration within the bureaucracy and contributed to growing unrest among government employees.
Protests, resistance and reform roadblocks
The year witnessed an unprecedented wave of protests within the Secretariat—the heart of Bangladesh’s administrative machinery. In May, government officials protested against the interim government’s move to take swift disciplinary action against those accused of disrupting official duties.
Under the banner of Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Unity Forum, officials staged demonstrations for nearly half a month against the draft Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025. The protests disrupted routine administrative work and paralysed daily activities within the Secretariat.
Despite the unrest, the government issued a gazette notification enacting the ordinance. Protests continued for several days even after its publication, with demonstrators demanding its withdrawal.
Tensions peaked last week when several hundred Secretariat officials confined Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed to his office for approximately six hours, demanding a 20 percent allowance. Police later arrested five leaders of Secretariat staff for staging the protest within the Secretariat premises.
The bureaucracy has increasingly been accused of obstructing the reform agenda of the Yunus-led interim government. Earlier this month, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman described the bureaucracy as the biggest barrier to reform. His remarks followed controversy over retaining the cabinet secretary’s role in the selection committee under the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, 2025.
Experts say the bureaucracy has struggled to adapt to the altered political environment, while many capable officials have failed to secure postings in key positions. AKM Abdul Awal Majumder, a retired secretary and former rector of the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre, said the interim government had failed to manage the bureaucracy with neutrality, leaving many officials disappointed.
He noted that while pro–Awami League officials were sidelined, a new influential group had emerged, now exerting pressure over postings and promotions.
Sadik Hasan, a professor of public administration at Dhaka University, said bureaucrats over the past year largely hesitated to implement government directives. Knowing the interim government was temporary, he said, officials feared future repercussions once political power shifted again—deepening indecision and administrative inertia.
