Political Support Must Not Influence Official Duties: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that government officials may personally support any political party, but such support must be reflected at the ballot box, not in the performance of their official duties. “I do not consider it wrong for government officials to support a particular political party. However, that support should be reflected at the ballot box, not in government offices,” he said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing newly recruited BCS officers at the closing ceremony of the 81st Foundation Training Course at the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) in Savar on Sunday evening.

Tarique said there was no need for him to deliver a lengthy lecture on what government officials should or should not do in their professional lives, as they were already well aware of their responsibilities. What mattered most, he added, was their willingness to put that knowledge into practice.

Highlighting his expectations of the newly recruited officers, the Prime Minister said they must ensure that citizens of all ages do not face any form of harassment when seeking assistance from government offices.

Referring to the 'Golden Rule' of ethics, he said, “Treat others as you want to be treated.” Officials should treat people seeking assistance in the same way they would expect to be treated when they themselves need help, he added.

Emphasising the importance of following laws and regulations while maintaining humane behaviour, Tarique said government officials must perform their duties within the boundaries of the law. However, treating service seekers with humanity and compassion is equally important in a modern state and administration.

Giving an example, he said it was not wrong for an official to ask a citizen to correct mistakes in an application. However, instead of simply turning the person away, the official should clearly identify the errors and explain where and how they could be corrected.

Such guidance reflects humanity and sincerity, he said, adding that people expect not only instructions and directives from government officials but also humane treatment.

Regarding postings and promotions, the Prime Minister said the public administration had thousands of positions, each of which was important for the state and the government.

However, some officials compromise their professional competence and integrity in pursuit of preferred postings or promotions, he observed.

He said being mentally prepared to serve in any position anywhere in the country was a true sign of professionalism.

“Just as no government is permanent, no position in public administration is permanent for anyone,” he added.

Addressing the officers, Tarique said Bangladesh Civil Service currently had 26 cadres. After completing their training, some would join the administration, foreign affairs, agriculture, taxation, education and information cadres, among others.

Although their responsibilities and workplaces would differ, their primary identity would remain the same: officers of the public administration. “You are there to serve the people,” he said.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the government's responsibility to implement its election manifesto, saying the people had endorsed the manifesto through their votes in the national election.

As a result, the manifesto had become the people's mandate, and implementing it was now the responsibility of the government, he said, urging government officials to work sincerely to fulfil those commitments through administrative activities.

Stressing the need to reduce bureaucratic delays and make public services easier and more accessible, Tarique said a positive attitude among government officials and employees could play an important role in improving service delivery.

He expressed hope that the newly recruited officers would take effective initiatives to make public administration more efficient and citizen-friendly.

He also underscored the importance of environmental protection and cleanliness, urging everyone to keep their homes, offices and public spaces clean to build a better environment for future generations.

At the programme, which began at 6pm, the Prime Minister attended as the chief guest and handed over certificates to the 10 best-performing officers selected on the basis of merit and performance from among participants in the four-month-long 81st Foundation Training Course. He wished the newly recruited officers happiness, peace, comfort and success in their future professional lives.