Draft Civil Service Law
Limitations must go before enactment
Speakers tell roundtable
The proposed draft Civil Service Law 2010 carries many limitations and if the government passes the law without addressing them, there would be a permanent damage in the country's civil administration, said speakers at a roundtable yesterday.
They expressed concern over the provisions of the law like president's quota for superior posts and selection board for appointment of the candidates and said these provisions would politicise the civil administration unabated.
A merit-based, efficient, and impartial civil administration is imperative for a country to advance, they said, stressing the need for thoroughly analysing the draft law along with bringing reforms in the existing administration.
The roundtable titled "Reforms in civil administration, current initiatives and citizens' thought" was organised by Shushashoner Janya Nagorik (Shujan), a platform for civil society members, at Jatiya Press Club in the city.
The government recently uploaded the draft law in the website of the ministry of public administration inviting opinions and recommendations from the stakeholders and people on the draft.
"Politicisation in the civil administration may reach to an uncontrollable level if the law is made effective without removing the limitations of the law", said Shujan secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumder.
Reading out the keynote paper, he said the provision of selection board might be misused as the government can facilitate its choice people through influencing selection board and the candidates.
Public Service Commission (PSC) should be authorised for cadre selection and appointment of the officials on the basis of merit and qualities, he said.
Referring to the clause that facilitates the civil servants from arrest before the government permission, Dr Badiul said the clause is a dangerous one, as it has the possibility to spread corruption unabated in the administration.
The law avoided crucial issues like quota system, contractual appointment, and officer on special duty, he added.
M Hafizuddin Khan, former adviser to a caretaker government, said preparing a law is not enough to rid civil administration of political partisanship; political commitment is a must as the major political parties politicised the civil service severely.
Former Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder said it is not possible to have an efficient civil administration unless the meritorious people are attracted to these jobs.
Columnist Syed Abul Maksud, Shujan President Prof Muzaffer Ahmad, former Rector of Public Administration Training Centre Dr Sheikh Maksud Ali and former secretary Abdul Latif Mondal also spoke.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments