'Empower president to ensure check & balance in govt'

Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, principal secretary to the prime minister, speaks as the chief guest at a seminar on "Public Administration Reforms in Bangladesh: Exploring Implementable Action Agenda" at the Cirdap auditorium yesterday. On his left is Dr Zerina Rahman Khan and on his right are Dr Hussain Zillur Rahman and Dr MM Rahman. PHOTO: STAR

Giving this thought at a seminar, former cabinet secretary Mujibul Haq also suggested electing the president through an electoral college comprising about one lakh representatives of local government bodies instead of the current system of election by 300 lawmakers only.

"And the president should be the last resort for civil bureaucracy to appeal against any political interference or pressure for smooth functioning of the administration," he said.

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The seminar, Public Administration Reforms in Bangladesh: Exploring Implementable Action Agenda, was held at the Cirdap auditorium in the city under the aegis of non-governmental development organisations -- Manusher Jonno and Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC).

Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, principal secretary to the prime minister, was present as chief guest.

Former advisor to a caretaker government Hafizuddin Khan also agreed to Mujibul Haq's reform proposals and emphasised more brainstorming on this issue.

Both Siddiqui and Haq found a common reason for administrative reforms taking a backseat.

They noted that both the BNP and the Awami League, whoever goes to power, remain engrossed in tackling the opposition rather than making enough efforts for reforms.

Additional Secretary Dr MM Rahman, chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, presented the keynote paper at the seminar moderated by PPRC Chairman Dr Hussain Zillur Rahman. Steering Committee Member of Manusher Jonno Dr Zerina Rahman Khan delivered the welcome address.

Dr Siddiqui said he was tired of getting extensions in service for three consecutive terms after his retirement from public service but "it is not us who will accelerate the reforms. Rather, the young bureaucrats would push forward the reforms."

"I have long been trying to sell the idea of training up 5,000 young and talented civil bureaucrats abroad so that they can give leadership to civil bureaucracy in the future. The plan has been lying with the Planning Commission as donors showed no interest in funding it so far," he said.

The discussants, including bureaucrats, academics, NGO activists and civil society members, noted that as many as 28 reform commissions were appointed during the period of 1947-62 and 16 more since 1971 but only a few recommendations were implemented.

The latest in the series, the Public Administration Reform Commission (PARC) 1997, made 30 interim, 70 short-term and 37 long-term recommendations, of which 18 have been implemented so far.

Hafizuddin Khan said that despite endless talks on the reform issues, neither an ombudsman nor an independent anti-corruption commission has so far been established. He also regretted that judiciary has not yet been separated from the executive.

The participants underscored the need for a strong political will to carry forward reform agendas and strengthen the local government system. They also called for financial solvency of local government bodies.