Row in Politics: PM pledges action on July Charter

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday said his government is firmly committed to implementing every clause of the July Charter, describing it not merely as a political pledge but as a binding “contract with the people,” even as opposition parties continue to mount pressure on the administration over the same issue.

Tarique Rahman, who also chairs the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), made the remarks while addressing a programme at the Bangladesh Institute of Administration and Management (BIAM) Foundation in the capital, where he laid the foundation stone of a new training centre-cum-dormitory building.

Addressing senior civil servants, the Prime Minister said the electoral mandate received by his government carries both moral and constitutional obligations that must be implemented through the bureaucracy.

“The promises we have made to the country and the people are not merely political promises — they are our contract with the people,” he said.

“The people have given their verdict in favour of our manifesto.

Therefore, the present democratic government is committed to implementing the election manifesto and every clause and every commitment of the July Charter signed before the people.”

He urged officials to uphold public trust in the administration, stressing the need for transparency, accountability and strong ethical standards across all sectors.

Describing the role of civil servants, he said their responsibility goes beyond routine administrative duties.

“You are positioned at the highest administrative level of state governance,” he said.

“In building a strong, accountable, lawful and people-friendly state system, you are the main driving force on whose professionalism, efficiency, moral strength and administrative wisdom the nation’s development depends.”

He added that decisions taken by public officials can have wide-ranging consequences, affecting individuals, communities, and the nation as a whole, making their role both administrative and “a very important moral and constitutional responsibility.”

The Prime Minister referred to the July–August 2024 mass uprising that led to the fall of the previous Awami League government, saying it had reaffirmed that “the people are the owners of this state.”

“After more than one and a half decades, the democracy-loving people of the country have directly voted and elected a democratic government,” he said, describing his administration as a reflection of long-suppressed aspirations for “accountable, justice-based and welfare-oriented governance.”

Without naming past administrations, he acknowledged the challenges faced by civil servants under what he termed a “fascist regime,” but said he would not dwell on past issues, focusing instead on present priorities.

Beyond the July Charter, Tarique Rahman outlined a wider administrative reform agenda, pledging to build what he called a “Bangladesh of meritocracy,” where merit, integrity, creativity, efficiency and experience guide recruitment, transfer and promotion in the public sector.

He announced plans to strengthen the Public Service Commission, ensure transparent recruitment in vacant posts, establish an administrative reform commission, and introduce private service rules.

Highlighting global technological changes, he noted that the world has entered the era of artificial intelligence and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“The use of artificial intelligence, automation, and digital technology will make our administration more efficient, transparent, and accountable,” he said.

He also expressed hope that BIAM’s training programmes would enhance officials’ problem-solving abilities and innovation capacity, with expanded opportunities for advanced courses, research, and policy-focused education alongside basic training.