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

Abstract

On the 15th of March, 1972, the Government decided to appoint ■a Committee with Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Choudhuri, Vice- Chancellor, Dacca University, 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. (/'/) Secretary, Ministry of Cabinet Affairs (Establishment Division). (i/i) 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, M.C.A. 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 whole- ^ time 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 the question of 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 tnF 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 professionalism and too much class and rank-oriented with very little opportunities to rise to the top for those who started their career in the lower ranks. The service structure designed to serve a colonial, federal form of Government within a capitalist framework was found unsuitable for the independent, socialist, democratic and unitary Government and inadequate to meet the challenge of quick development and socialist reconstruction of the country. In these circumstances* the Committee felt the necessity of refashioning and restructuring the Bangladesh Civil Service. It has, therefore, recommended a single classless continuous Unified Grading Structure for the entire Civil Service of Bangladesh in which -there will be no reservation of any post for any group, except for obvious technical reasons. The members of this Service will be required to acquire professionalism in chosen areas of administration-, and there will be adequate opportunity for talented persons to quickly rise to the top from any level of the Service. The status of scientific, technical and artistic talents, teachers and field officers has been upgraded. Provisions have been made for systematic re-exposure of senior officers serving ift the national headquarters to the field, and towards the establishment of a living fellowship of officers with the common men. The recommendations for training take special note of the need for orientation and training of existing incumbents as well as new recruits in the new social philosophy of the nation. Great emphasis has been given to systematic and scientific career management and personnel development. 8. On the 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 t 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 is now being submitted contains the proposal for the reorganisation of the Services. The reorganisation of the Services iiad to be taken up first in order to assist the National Pay Commission in determining the new pay scales. The second part of the Report dealing with the reorganisation of the administration will be submitted shortly. 10. The Committee would like, to emphasise that its proposals are part of an integrated scheme and require to be implemented in full expeditiously, otherwise the desired end would not be achieved and a lot of confusion may result.