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Introduction of provincial system of government for devolution of power in the unitary state of Bangladesh and Capital City Government in Dhaka has been recommended by a commission as part of massive reforms.
The Public Administration Reform Commission (PARC), one of several commissions formed by the post-uprising government, has also prescribed a reduction in the number of ministries and creation of two new administrative divisions.
In its report, submitted Wednesday to Chief Adviser of the interim government Dr Muhammad Yunus, the panel also recommends vesting judicial power in the Deputy Commissioner by renaming the position as District Magistrate and District Commissioner.
Headed by Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, the commission has prepared the recommendations after wide-scale consultations with cross-sections of people in a bid to make the public administration more dynamic, efficient and effective.
Another commission, the Judiciary Reform Commission, led by Justice Shah Abu Naeem Mominur Rahman also handed over its report to the Chief Adviser at the same function at the state guesthouse Jamuna.
The Muyeed commission has proposed a reduction in the number of ministries from present 43 to 25. And these 25 ministries will be under five clusters: administration; finance, commerce and industries; infrastructure and communications; agriculture and environment; and human resources and social development.
Besides, it proposes reducing government departments from 61 to 40.
The commission recommends merger of three investment-related departments--BIDA, BEPZA and BEZA--into a single body.
Also recommended is reconstitution of the Internal Resources Division, saying that the same person should not hold the posts of IRD secretary and NBR chairman.
Instead, the commission proposes dividing the National Board of Revenue or NBR into three wings--income tax, customs, and VAT-to be headed by separate directors-general.
As recommended by the commission-assigned to outline dos for 'state reconstruction', a slogan protesters chanted during the July-August uprising--provincial system of government should be introduced by dividing the country into four provinces to decentralize power of the unitary state.
It also suggests the formation of two new divisions in Cumilla and Faridpur.
The reform panel is in favour of the formation of 'Capital City Government' in Dhaka alike the Delhi city government to improve the service- delivery mechanisms.
This city government can comprise Dhaka city, Narayanganj, Keraniganj, Tongi and Savar.
The commission proposes trifurcating the Public Service Commission by creating two more for recruitment of education and health cadres.
Deputy Commissioner has to re-designated as 'District Magistrate and District Commissioner, vesting in them judicial power so that they can settle disputes out of the court.
"This will ease burden on courts," the report notes.
The commission also proposes setting up magistrate courts in upazila level and recommends the creation of upazila public security officer post to be held by a police officer of ASP rank.
As recommended, the land-registration offices should be brought under the land ministry instead of the law ministry.
The commission proposes abolition of BCS Postal Cadre and creation of engineering cadre with the engineers of the local government and engineering departments.
It also proposes the formation of immigration department which will be out of the police department.
But 20-percent immigration officers can be recruited from police department.
The commission also recommends the formation of Superior Executive Services where officers of other cadres can have the scope of becoming Deputy Secretary.
Presently, 75-percent quota is reserved for the administration cadre but the commission prescribes reducing the quota to 50 per cent.
It proposes to keep 13 cadres in the civil services.
The commission has suggested government employees be allowed to seek voluntary retirement with full benefits after 15 years of service, instead of existing 25 years.
"It is recommended that public employees be allowed to retire with all benefits after 15 years of service. This will provide an exit route for ones who choose to change their career," says the report.
The commission says Section 45 of the Public Service Act 2018 should be scrapped as it allows government to give compulsory retirement to any of its employees after 25 years of service, if it wishes.
Earlier, while receiving the reports of the two commissions, Chief Adviser Prof Yunus called upon all concerned to accept the reports of the reform commissions and come forward to implement those.
"I hope all will unanimously accept and implement those (reports)," he said.
Addressing the commission members, Prof Yunus said, "We have many bitter experiences of harassment, humiliation and insult. We have experience of forgetting about our demands and rights."
It is a matter of hope that the reform reports submitted today would pave the way of making the people free and get back their rights.
The head of interim government said the reports of the reform commissions would be shared with citizens, political parties and civil- society members so that they all can reach a consensus to this end.
"The reports of the reform commissions are the remarkable documents in the history of Bangladesh," he said, expressing gratitude to the chairmen of the commissions and all members for the efforts to prepare the report.
The chief adviser observed that the reports of the commission will contribute to the whole world, not only to Bangladesh.
"I have received those (reports) as the assets for the world. It will have a place in history," notes the Nobel laureate.
The PARC sets 6 goals for public-administration reform: people-oriented public administration, transparent and accountable administration, development of efficiency and capacity of public administration, impartial public administration, efficient administration in public service, and effective public administration.
The commission has identified the recommendations as short-term (six months), medium-term (one year) and long-term for the convenience of implementation.
Since the commencement of its work, the commission had held 49 meetings and formulated the report and recommendations of the commission. The report of the commission has been arranged in a total of 17 chapters. More than 200 recommendations have been presented with 14 different headings.
The commission sent letter to 13 political parties seeking advice from them to overhaul the administration. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Amra Bangladesh Party and National People's Party submitted their suggestions in writing.
On September 11, 2024, Chief Adviser Prof Yunus announced the formation of six commissions.
Four other reform commissions-- Electoral System Reform Commission, Police Administration Reform Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission Reform Commission, and the Constitution Reform Commission--submitted their preliminary reports to the Chief Adviser on January 15 last.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com