Comprehensive reforms needed to modernize Bangladesh civil service

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Bangladesh urgently needs comprehensive reforms to develop a merit-based, efficient and effective civil service to move the country toward its goals for social and economic development. A World Bank Governance Policy Note titled :Is Class I Top Tier? Can the Civil Service Be a Key to Progress in Bangladesh? argues only resolute political will and administrative capacity, capable of making policies and delivering services relevant in the twenty-first century, can create a modern civil service in Bangladesh.

The Policy Note, delivered to the Government recently, recommends the following:

· Give additional emphasis to merit in managing the civil service.

· Focus on the fundamentals of civil service reform, where tinkering at the edges has been unproductive, by building a stronger legal framework, more independent oversight, and better tools for managing performance.

Referring to the ongoing and future reforms, such as the proposed clustering of ministries and establishment of a senior civil service, the study notes that previous civil service reforms attempts yielded little as anomalies at the heart of the matter were ignored.

The report argues that two main institutional changes are needed: (a) enactment of laws defining the roles and responsibilities of the civil service and the Public Service Commission, as a legal framework for civil service management and (b) establishment of the Public Service Commission as an independent guardian of merit. At the same time, there is an urgent need to revamp the tools to manage the Class I civil service: the recruitment examination, the annual performance assessment, and rules governing promotions.

The report cautions that technical solutions alone would not show results, as civil service reform is universally difficult. It suggests not constituting more commissions to determine what should be done, and urges to follow policies with implementation plans.

Contacts:

Rezwan Alam (8802) 8159015, Ext 4242
E-mail: salam3@worldbank.org; www.worldbank.org.bd