Public administration reform body coming soon
The government is set to form a Public Administration Reform Commission soon as part of its election pledge to reform the public service, Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Nazrul Islam Khan said on Monday.
The government was preparing to formally establish the Public Administration Reform Commission, with advisers saying steps were already under way to reshape the administration and reduce political influence within the public service.
“Some time is being taken, but it will be formed soon, InshaAllah,” Nazrul Islam Khan said while answering journalists’ questions at an exchange of views marking the government’s 180 days at the International Conference Centre “Shapla” at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon.
He said the proposed commission would require proper institutional support and that the government wanted to remove any obstacles within the administration before beginning the reform process.
Prime Minister’s adviser on Public Administration Ismail Zabihullah said the government had remained committed to its election pledge and was already taking preparatory measures.
He said officials associated with the previous Awami League government had been identified and steps were being taken to remove such elements from positions where necessary.
“We are trying to carry out a cleansing operation, and that process is continuing,” Zabihullah said. He, however, said the government would ensure that reform measures did not cause harm to the country or its people.
“We also have to move away from the politicisation of the administration,” Zabihullah said, adding that the government had reviewed the public administration reform report prepared during the interim government.
“We are going to formally constitute a commission for public administration reform very soon. You will see it shortly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon said the process of forming a Media Commission was also under way.
He said media stakeholders who had met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had appreciated the government for not exercising government control or influence over the media.
The minister said the proposed commission would institutionalise the existing arrangement, adding that there was no gap between the interests of media stakeholders and the government’s commitment.
Following the Prime Minister’s directive, the government had begun consultations with stakeholders and was nearing completion of the process, Swapon said.
A working group would next be formed to prepare a draft national action plan, which would subsequently be placed before the Cabinet, he added.
The remarks came during a programme marking the government’s first 180 days in office.
Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly moderated the programme, where Nazrul Islam Khan, Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon and Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon also spoke.
State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yaser Khan Chowdhury, Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health SM Ziauddin Haider, Special Assistant on Environment, Forest and Climate Affairs Saimum Parvez and Chief Coordinator at the Prime Minister’s Office Prof SM Abdul Awal, among others, attended the programme.
