Politics - Bureaucracy Interface In Bangladesh: Is It Intricate?

Md Obaidullah

Professor Woodrow Wilson, former US president, first talked about the relationship between politics and administration. The theory, politics-administration dichotomy, establishes the borders of public administration and the normative tie-up between elected officials and administrators in a democratic society. This theory demonstrates that politics and administration are fundamentally different and should be approached accordingly.

Balancing and co-operating interconnections are needed in between politics and bureaucracy. However, politicians rely on the bureaucrats for making and implementing policy.  In developing countries, the dependency on bureaucrats has seen too much and, in this regard, Bangladesh is not an exception to this.

According to a study, the line between politics and bureaucracy in Bangladesh is becoming increasingly blurred, as politics has begun to infiltrate the bureaucracy through civil service management functions such as recruitment, promotion, transfer, and training.

To put it another way, bureaucrats have used the process to get involved in politics at both the national and local levels in order to maximize their personal, professional, financial, and social benefits.Political parties and the bureaucracy are the core pillars of a state. Both are the owners of executive power of the government. Yet, one is permanent while the other is only temporary.

The bureaucracy is engaged in the service of the state by testing the intellect and a rigorous recruitment process. Whilst political parties are elected to govern for a fixed period of time based on the consent of the people. Thus, bureaucrats and politicians are united, integrated, and stable in their work inside the state system.Despite having similar interests and activities, they might become foes at times. Nonetheless, with these contradictions, they are an essential and integral component of the state structure.

They depend on each other. Since the bureaucracy of Bangladesh is 'not created by us' rather inherited by the British, it is not individual but imposed and patriarchal.In June 2021, there was uproar in the parliament over the government's dependency on bureaucracy. Senior members of the ruling Awami League and its partner party, the Jatiya Party, have voiced displeasure, claiming that the country is now devoid of politics and ruled by bureaucrats.

The Prime Minister's Office issued an office order in April appointing 64 secretaries in 64 districts to address the Corona pandemic. Previously, in May 2020, senior secretaries, and secretaries were charged with giving relief and dealing with epidemics. This is the source of Awami League and JP leaders' rage.

Further, we have seen the clash between the city mayor and UNO in Barishal. Local Awami League leaders and activists recently fought with police over the removal of banners from the grounds of the Sadar Upazila Parishad. Finally, this event was concluded in the case of City Mayor vs. UNO.

The country has become excessively bureaucratic. Politicians are losing their significance. Nevertheless, in a democratic society politicians must run the politics where bureaucrats are responsible for assisting in the implementation of political decisions. Unfortunately, our politics is increasingly drifting into the hands of bureaucrats.

According to the constitutional provision, the people own the state. In our system, Members of Parliament are elected directly by the adult franchise and subsequently govern the country. But, they are now considered spectators in terms of actions. Indeed, secretaries perform all important tasks.

Bureaucrats (UNO) are made to operate under the Upazila parishad at the Upazila level. In contrast, the unfortunate reality is that the elected representatives were unable to completely operationalize the parishad on account of their inefficiency and policy impediments. UNO is primarily a delegated officer and the Chief Executive Officer of Upazila Parishad. He is supposed to report to the chairman as the Upazila parishad's chief executive, but this is not happening. UNO is largely handled by the local Member of Parliament.

There are other causes for the excessive control of bureaucracy. The majority of the current cabinet ministers are new, and their backgrounds are 'business' in lieu of 'politics'. Inexperienced with the policy formulation and ministry's operations. As a result, bureaucrats are seizing this chance. They are providing the ministers with a clear understanding of the various tasks, the pace of work, and how to do several tasks. Ministers are also advised to take appropriate action. Consequently, the ministers approved the bureaucrats' submission.

As in Bangladesh, bureaucrats are appointed permanently on the basis of merit through competitive tests. They gain proficiency in government jobs because of their education, abilities, talents, and experience. On the flip side, factional strife, a lack of training, and a lack of experience may be seen in some of the political leadership. The bureaucrats became stronger by degrees through using the weakness of the political leadership and their own professional skills.   

Moreover, owing to the fragility of the political institutions in Bangladesh, the bureaucracy has grown to be quite sophisticated. Weaknesses in political leadership, squabbles, weak election commission, a lack of media freedom, a weakening of the judiciary, dysfunctional anti-corruption commission and absence of an ombudsman are some of the reasons behind the extreme power of bureaucracy.

Given the discussion that has taken place there is no reluctance in accepting that the bureaucratic-political interaction in Bangladesh is an unpleasant fact riddled with paradoxes. The existence of bureaucracy is as important as politicians' positions. We expect a sound and healthy relationship between them through cooperation and it would be great for the development of our country.


Md Obaidullah is a Student of Public Administration, University of Barishal