TOWARDS A BETTER PERFORMING PUBLIC SECTOR IN BANGLADESH: DEVISING A FRAMEWORK

This article addresses the persistent challenge of public sector performance in Bangladesh and attempts to devise a framework for comprehensive reform. It provides a critical diagnosis of the key problems that plague the country's public sector, including a politicized and inefficient bureaucracy, a lack of accountability, pervasive corruption, and a resistance to change. The study moves beyond a simple description of the problems to propose a holistic reform framework. The proposed framework includes several key pillars. These are the strengthening of meritocracy and professionalism in the civil service, the introduction of modern public management techniques with a focus on performance and results, a radical improvement in transparency and accountability mechanisms, and a strong political commitment to insulate the public sector from partisan interference. The paper argues that a piecemeal approach to reform is doomed to fail. The analysis concludes that achieving a better-performing public sector requires a sustained and comprehensive reform effort that addresses both the institutional and the political dimensions of the problem.

The poor performance of the public sector has been a major constraint on the development of Bangladesh. This paper seeks to devise a comprehensive framework for addressing this long-standing challenge. The analysis begins with a frank and detailed diagnosis of the principal dysfunctions of the Bangladeshi public sector. It analyzes the legacy of a highly centralized and rule-bound bureaucracy, the deep-seated problem of political patronage in appointments and promotions, and the weakness of both internal and external accountability mechanisms, which has created a culture of impunity and corruption. Having identified the problems, the core of the article is the construction of a multi-dimensional reform framework. The first pillar of this framework is institutional reform. This includes specific proposals for strengthening the Public Service Commission, reforming the civil service training academies, and introducing a modern, performance-based management system. The second pillar is the strengthening of accountability. The paper advocates for a much more powerful and independent Anti-Corruption Commission, a stronger role for parliamentary oversight, and greater transparency through measures like a right to information act. The third, and most critical, pillar is political commitment. The paper argues that no technical or institutional reform can succeed without a genuine and sustained commitment from the highest levels of the political leadership to create a professional, neutral, and accountable public sector. The paper concludes that while the task is daunting, it is not impossible, and it remains the single most important governance challenge for the country.