Report of The Administrative and Services Reorganisation Committee, Part-II: The Administration, 1973

Abstract

On the 15th of March, 1972, the Government decided to appoint a Committee with Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Choudhuri, the then Vice-Chancellor, Dacca University, presently Chairman of the University Grants Commission, as Chairman to determine the policy regarding the fresh recruitment to the Government services. 2. As the Members of the Committee, the Government decided to include the following:— (/) A representative from the Planning Commission. (ii) Secretary, Ministry of Cabinet Affairs (Establishment Division). (iii) A political representative to be nominated by the Prime Minister. 3. Professor Anisur Rahman, Member, Planning Commission was nominated by the Planning Commission to be a Member of the Committee and Mr Abdul Muntaquim Choudhury, the then M.C.A., now Ambassador of Bangladesh in Japan, was nominated by the Prime Minister to be the Political Representative on the Committee. Mr M. M. Zaman was initially a Member of the Committee in his capacity as Secretary, Ministry of Cabinet Affairs (Establishment Division). Later, he was appointed as the wholetime Member- Secretary of the Committee 4. Terms of reference of the Committee were later expanded as follows:— (a) To consider the present structure of various services, both technical and non-technical, and determine the future structure keeping in view the functional needs and requirements of the Government; (b) To ‘ consider" tfia’ amalgamation of all the Civil Services (that is, services other than Defence) into one unified service; (c) To determine the principles of integration of the personnel of various services in the new structure, and to determine the inter se seniority of personnel of the different services having similar academic background and job experiences in the process of merger or amalgamation, in case some structural changes are envisaged; (d ) To determine the future recruitment policy in the Government services at various levels keeping in view the educational and other job requirements; and (e) To prepare and recommend a comprehensive scheme for administrative reorganisation. 5. The Committee in the course of its examination of the issues, heard the representations from 183 service associations, interviewed 13 Ministers and 55 high officials, viz., Secretaries to the Government and heads of autonomous organisations, sector corporations of nationalised enterprises, insurance, banking and other financial credit institutions. 6. The Committee visited Chittagong and Rajshahi districts to study the district administration and to meet a cross section of the public and the district officials. The Committee had also visited the U.S.S.R. on the invitation of the Soviet Government to obtain the first-hand knowledge about the administrative and service structure existing in Soviet Russia. Joint meetings were held with the National Pay Commission to exchange ideas and views and to deliberate on •common issues. One of these meetings was presided over by the Prime Minister.7. In the course of its examination, the Committee found the existing services divided into too many distinct entities with artificial walls built around them with varying career prospects, lacking in 8. On the administrative side, the Committee found the structure •outmoded, the system sluggish and irresponsive to the people and the procedure complicated, confusing and ponderous. It has, therefore, recommended a simpler structure with more rational distribution of work and responsibility with built-in arrangement for the quick disposal of business and positive response to the people. 9. The first part of the Report, which was submitted to the Prime Minister on the 1st of Baisakh, 1380, contained the proposals for the reorganisation of the Services. The reorganisation of the Services had to be taken up first in order to assist the National P?y “Commission in determining the new pay scales. 10. In the second part of the Report which is now Aig submitted, recommendations have been made regarding the reorganisation of the Secretariat System and Procedure of Work, Ministerial and Departmental Organisation, and District and Local Government Administration. 11. Mr Abdul Montaquim Choudhury could not sign this part of the Report as he had to leave for Tokyo to take up his ambassadorial appointment. The deliberations were, however, completed before he left. He is in agreement with the conclusions reached and the recommendations made in this part of the Report.