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Break bureaucracy thru reforms of our civil administration

Published : Thursday, 6 February, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 323
Nazmul Karim
Bangladesh's civil bureaucracy has long been a bottleneck to progress. A rigid system, entangled in red tape, delays critical decisions, stifles innovation, and obstructs economic growth. Lack of transparency and accountability further erodes public trust. Businesses struggle, investors hesitate, and essential services remain inefficient. Without urgent reform, the system will continue to drag the nation backward. The solution lies in restructuring-creating a special bureaucracy with streamlined processes, clear accountability and modern governance mechanisms.

The country's administrative machinery is deeply rooted in colonial-era practices. Bureaucrats often prioritize procedural correctness over outcomes, resulting in excessive paperwork, delays, and inefficiencies. Every approval, from business licenses to infrastructure projects, faces layers of scrutiny that serve more as control mechanisms than facilitators. The system thrives on opacity, leaving room for arbitrary decision-making and corruption. When businesses wait months for approvals or citizens struggle with basic services, it reflects a fundamental failure of governance.

In 2023, a World Bank report highlighted that bureaucratic inefficiency costs Bangladesh billions in lost economic opportunities. Foreign investors frequently cite red tape as a key deterrent. Local entrepreneurs, burdened by excessive compliance requirements, often turn to informal channels to bypass the system. This fosters a parallel economy where influence matters more than merit, perpetuating inequality and inefficiency.

Transparency International Bangladesh has repeatedly raised concerns about discretionary power, which enables bureaucrats to delay or deny services without justification. The impacts extend beyond businesses. Critical infrastructure projects often stall due to bureaucratic delays. Roads, ports, and power plants require multiple approvals across different agencies, many of which lack coordination. In some cases, projects funded by development partners, such as the World Bank or ADB, face repeated extensions due to slow processing. This inefficiency not only wastes public funds but also delays economic benefits for citizens.

Accountability remains another major concern. Promotions and incentives in the civil service are often based on seniority rather than performance. As a result, mediocrity thrives while merit is sidelined. Complaints against bureaucrats rarely lead to consequences, further deepening the culture of impunity. The absence of a digital governance framework exacerbates these issues, as outdated file-based processing allows inefficiencies to persist. One of the key reasons bureaucracy remains inefficient is its reluctance to embrace performance-based evaluation. Unlike the private sector, where targets and efficiency drive promotions, civil servants advance through tenure alone. The lack of consequence for delays, inefficiency, or corruption further demotivates those who want to bring change. When officers know they will be promoted regardless of performance, the incentive to deliver better service disappears.

To address this, Bangladesh must establish a Special Bureaucratic Framework (SBF) tailored to modern governance needs. This specialized wing, operating parallel to the traditional system, should be designed for efficiency, transparency, and accountability. Unlike the existing structure, the SBF must prioritize service delivery over administrative formalities. A performance-based system should replace the rigid seniority model, ensuring that competence drives decision-making. Technology must be at the heart of this reform. A fully digital workflow system, with real-time tracking of approvals, would eliminate delays and curb corruption. India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) portal, for instance, demonstrates how digital systems can enhance efficiency. Bangladesh's National Board of Revenue (NBR) has made strides in automation, but broader application across ministries is essential. The SBF should be equipped with an independent oversight body that audits decisions and holds officials accountable for delays or irregularities.

Public-private collaboration is crucial. The business community, long frustrated by bureaucratic hurdles, must be given a voice in shaping administrative reforms. Countries like Singapore and the UAE have demonstrated how private sector insights can enhance governance efficiency. Bangladesh's investment climate will improve significantly if approvals are streamlined, time-bound, and predictable. The SBF can serve as a model, gradually transforming the broader bureaucratic structure. A major problem in the current setup is the disconnect between bureaucracy and economic realities. The private sector operates on efficiency, speed, and results. Bureaucracy, on the other hand, moves at its own pace, often oblivious to the economic impact of delays. If business leaders and policy experts are integrated into an advisory role within the SBF, the system will become more responsive to economic needs.

Political will is the key enabler. Any reform initiative will face resistance from entrenched interests within the system. Bureaucrats accustomed to unchecked authority may oppose transparency measures. However, leadership at the highest level must recognize that an efficient administration is essential for economic growth. Bangladesh aspires to achieve developed country status by 2041, a goal that remains unrealistic without governance reforms. The government has previously attempted digitization projects, but many have failed due to lack of enforcement. Simply introducing e-governance systems is not enough; officials must be held accountable for using them. If an application process is supposed to take 10 days, delays should trigger automatic inquiries. The SBF should function on strict service-level agreements, ensuring efficiency at every level.

Failure to reform bureaucracy will have long-term consequences. Bangladesh's ambitions to become a regional business hub will remain unattainable if inefficiencies persist. The cost is not just economic-it affects governance credibility, citizen trust, and overall national progress. Corruption, inefficiency, and delays create frustration, leading to a widening gap between the government and the people. The time for incremental change is over. A bold restructuring, anchored in efficiency, transparency, and accountability, is the only path forward. By establishing a Special Bureaucratic Framework, Bangladesh can break free from the shackles of red tape and drive national progress. If the government fails to act, the cost will not just be economic-it will be a failure of governance itself.

The writer is CEO and Managing Director of Bridge Chemie Limited



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