Home minister calls for depoliticising public administration

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday (July 19) called for an end to what he described as 17 years of political influence in the civil administration, urging public officials to serve with neutrality, professionalism and integrity.

Speaking at the inauguration of a four-day workshop marking National Public Service Day 2026 at the BCS Administration Academy in Dhaka, the minister said the country's bureaucracy must evolve into a truly people-oriented institution capable of meeting public expectations.

He urged government officials to remain free from political bias and discharge their duties with patriotism, honesty and accountability, stressing that civil servants should see themselves as public servants rather than rulers.

"The civil service is the driving force of the state. Transparency, accountability and a service-oriented mindset must be ensured at every level of the administration," he said.

The minister also stressed that workshops and policy discussions would have little value unless they translate into tangible benefits for citizens.

Highlighting the importance of reliable data for policymaking, Salahuddin alleged that key national statistics—including census, agricultural output and per capita income—had been manipulated for political purposes in the past. He called for strengthening the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) to ensure accurate and credible data.

He further urged greater emphasis on agriculture and remittances to reinforce the country's economic foundation, alongside expanding technical education, promoting agro-based industries and strengthening family planning programmes.

The home minister said policy formulation is the mandate of an elected government, while implementing those policies efficiently and transparently is the responsibility of the civil administration.

The event was chaired by Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Md Ehsanul Haque and attended by senior government officials, including BCS Administration Academy Rector Mohammad Altaf-Ul-Alam.