Govt officials should not serve more than five years: Chief Adviser

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has said government officials should not remain in service for more than five years, arguing that longer tenures lead to rigid mindsets and stifle creativity.

He made the remarks at the inauguration of the Digital Device and Innovation Expo-2026 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka on Wednesday (January 28).

Yunus said institutions should be renewed every 10 years, as goals evolve over time but people often continue to operate with outdated ideas.

He also described the notion of guaranteeing jobs for all as a “misconception,” calling it part of a “slave mentality,” and stressed that the government should instead support people in becoming entrepreneurs.

Referring to the July movement, Yunus said it opened new political possibilities in the country, adding that the Digital Device and Innovation Expo would similarly create new opportunities in the information and technology sector.

He noted that protests triggered by the internet shutdown during the July uprising ultimately led to the fall of a powerful government.

Yunus said the digital sector has now become the core driver of change and will influence all other sectors. He criticised the limited practical implementation of digitalisation in public services, saying the government should build systems and allow citizens to use them independently, which he described as the true strength of information technology.

Highlighting the situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Yunus said only 12 of around 2,500 schools in the three hill districts had internet access, noting that in areas without teachers, the internet could serve as the best teacher.

Calling for an end to fraudulent practices, the chief adviser said Bangladesh had earned a negative reputation internationally due to fraud. “If we want to excel in technology, fraud must stop,” he said, adding that the country has the capacity to move forward with dignity and pride.