TIB for revising provisions of civil service act

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) today called upon the government to take measures to revise a number of provisions of the Bangladesh Civil Service Act 2017 drafted by the Ministry of Public Administration recently.

The anti-corruption watchdog said they have found that some of the provisions are risky for ensuring the work environment for the public servant employees.

In a release issued by the TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman, it also stressed the need for reviewing some provisions of the draft law to make sure the professional excellence of the government service holders and neutrality beyond the politicisation and uninterrupted work atmosphere.

TIB also called for taking stakeholders' opinion through participatory interactions and publication of the draft on website prior to finalising the act.

It mentioned that the special jurisdiction of the President in the provision of appointing ten percent employees in the highest four levels in contract basis may cause the increase for the risk of grouping and reduce professionalism in the public administration.

“If the scope of satisfactory promotion is not enforced without specific criteria, then the democracy, efficiency and experience of the public administration will be depreciated and the professional development will be hampered.”

Moreover, TIB said the provision to fire the employees without any reason to any employee at any time after the completion of 25 from employment years is also risky.

TIB also said, despite the provisions of Article 197 (1) of the Criminal Procedure, the provisions for the government's permission to arrest before filing a charge and a case against an officer and employee on duty is discriminatory and contrary to the constitution.

“The drafted act is a long-awaited and timely initiative. However, the revision of some provisions of the draft law is needed to ensure the proper environment for the employees. The employees should be evaluated on the basis of better professionalism, talent, expertise and experience-based assessment, and especially in the public administration, without any political interruption,” said the release.