Contractual reshuffle in public administration: a strong signal to administration

Ehsanul Haque moved to the Planning Commission just days into his contract-

Top-level management changes amidst discontent over postings and promotions

New Secretary faces challenges regarding transparency, merit, and overcoming administrative stagnationContractual reshuffle in public administration: tough message to administration

The government has brought major changes in the top management of public administration. Contractual senior secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Md Ehsanul Haque has been removed and made a member of the Planning Commission. In his place, contractual secretary of the Health Services Division Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury has been transferred and posted as secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration. At the same time, three officers of the administration have been promoted to the rank of secretary and given charge of three important ministries.

These decisions were informed in separate notifications of the Ministry of Public Administration last Wednesday. Concerned persons in the administration are not viewing this reshuffle of the government as a mere regular administrative change. According to them, this change has been brought in the top post of public administration amid complaints and dissatisfaction that the expectation of evaluating officers on the basis of speed, discipline and merit that was created in the administration during the new government’s tenure has not been fully met. In particular, there have been various discussions among officers in recent times regarding the appointment of deputy commissioners (DCs), promotions and postings, and the distribution of important administrative responsibilities. Some have complained that the influence of special quarters is working alongside professional considerations in the decision-making of the administration. Although no formal acknowledgement or explanation has been received from the government regarding these complaints. Now the biggest question before the new secretary Kamruzzaman is whether he will be able to overcome this crisis of confidence inside the administration.

The decision to remove Ehsanul Haque from such an important ministry as the Ministry of Public Administration and make him a member of the Planning Commission is being viewed as significant inside the administration. After the new government took charge, a major expectation of the officers of the administration was that the long-standing deprivation and dissatisfaction would end, officers would be evaluated on the basis of merit and seniority, and competent and experienced officers would be given responsibility in important posts of the administration. But as time passed, frustration developed among a section of the officers. In particular, questions arose regarding the nature of decision-making on postings and promotions. There have also been discussions at various times regarding the appointment of DCs in the field administration.

Several officers of the administration, on condition of anonymity, said the speed of decision-making in public administration was not at the expected level, it was taking time to dispose of various proposals, and a section of officers were in uncertainty regarding their own evaluation and future postings. Concerned persons believe that removing him from public administration is indicating a change in the position of the government’s policy-making quarters.

The new secretary Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury is not a new face for the administration. He took charge as the contractual secretary of the Health Services Division in March this year. Later he was also given the additional responsibility of the Health Education and Family Welfare Division. With the experience of handling a complex and multi-layered administrative structure like the health sector, he has now been given the responsibility of a ministry whose decisions have an impact on almost the entire government administration. Therefore, his first challenge will not only be to increase the speed of file disposal, but also to create credibility in decision-making.

A large section of the officers of the administration have long wanted a combined evaluation of transparency, seniority and merit in postings and promotions. In particular, there is expectation regarding the evaluation of deprived officers. Again, the opposite side is also important—if one side is deprived again while removing the deprivation of another side, the crisis of confidence may deepen further. In other words, the most difficult task for the new secretary will be to maintain balance: deprivation has to be removed, but a retaliatory administration cannot be created; merit has to be considered, but its definition should not be determined by personal likes and dislikes; decisions have to be taken quickly, but not in a hurry. This is where Kamruzzaman’s test lies.

An officer of the administration unwilling to be named said that changing the secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration alone will not solve the problem. The new secretary will have to rebuild the space of confidence inside the administration, particularly by bringing changes among those working in public administration and posting competent ones in various wings.

The question of confidence in public administration becomes most visible in the field administration. Because although the decisions of the secretariat often seem distant to ordinary citizens, citizens directly feel the behaviour and efficiency of the deputy commissioner, upazila administration, land administration or field-level officers. Therefore, the appointment of deputy commissioners and the leadership of the field administration may be an important test for the new public administration secretary. If merit, experience of field administration, honesty, capacity for decision-making and skill in handling crises can be made the main criteria for appointment, the government’s message of administrative reform will become credible. On the other hand, if allegations of the influence of party, personal or special groups come to the fore again, questions will also quickly arise about the new leadership.

Here it is important for the government to keep one thing in mind—one secretary alone cannot change the administration. The political leadership of the Ministry of Public Administration, the secretary, additional secretaries, committees related to appointment and promotion and other institutional structures—all together create the decisions. Therefore, just as the responsibility for failure is not only of the secretary, the credit for success cannot be solely his either.

Alongside the top change in public administration, three officers have been promoted to the rank of secretary and posted in important ministries.

Additional secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration A N M Bazlur Rashid has been promoted to secretary and sent to the Health Services Division. Additional secretary of the Ministry of Industries A K M Benjamin Riazi has been promoted to secretary and posted in the Health Education and Family Welfare Division. And additional secretary of the Cabinet Division Yasmin Begum has been promoted to secretary and given the responsibility of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. On the other hand, secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Kaniz Maula has been attached to the Ministry of Public Administration for subsequent posting.

A section of the administration is viewing the decision to elevate several officers from the same batch to the rank of secretary and send them to important ministries positively. According to them, if this trend of giving responsibility to officers considering experience and competence continues, professionalism in the administration will increase.

BCS Administration 82 batch officer Md Ehsanul Haque was appointed as the senior secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration in October 2025, that is, during the interim government. Before that he was in the responsibility of contractual senior secretary in the Road Transport and Highways Division. Through sending him as a member of the Planning Commission on Wednesday, his responsibility has been changed from the most influential administrative post of public administration. There is no information in the published government order that any punitive measure has been taken against him.

It may be mentioned that the current government had given him contractual appointment only a few days ago, and a few days after that he has been kept as a member of the Planning Commission (with the rank of senior secretary). As a result, many are viewing this transfer as a demotion. In particular, when there is a change in such an influential post as the public administration secretary, officers naturally look for the administrative message behind it. However, a transfer inside the administration is never just a transfer.

There is criticism during his tenure

There has been various criticism regarding postings and promotions during Ehsanul Haque’s tenure. In particular, dissatisfaction regarding the appointment of deputy commissioners in the field administration, posting of officers in various ministries and divisions, and the method of evaluating officers has also come in the media at various times. However, there is no information that any of these allegations has been proved against Ehsanul Haque in any government investigation. At the same time, it cannot be denied that this change in the top post of public administration is carrying a political and institutional message to the administration.

Questions remain even after the change

Through this reshuffle in public administration, the biggest test for the government has now begun. Because the officers of the administration do not just want to see a new face; they want continuity, transparency and professionalism in decision-making. If deprived officers are properly evaluated, it will give a positive message in the administration. On the contrary, if allegations of bias in postings and promotions arise again, questions may also be created about the new leadership.

The matter is also important for the political leadership of the government, because the implementation of electoral pledges, effective cooperation of the field administration and the efficiency of the state machinery—everything is directly linked with public administration. Therefore, viewing Kamruzzaman’s appointment as only the transfer of one secretary will not capture the full picture. The question is whether this is an attempt to rebuild the government’s confidence inside the administration.

Perhaps the answer will be found in the decisions on postings, transfers and promotions in the coming few weeks. This time in public administration it is not the turn of change, but the turn of seeing the results of the change.