PM Puts Importance on Building an Efficient Civil Administration

She said a four-month training is not sufficient for the civil administrative officers, every civil servant should go for further training. She urged the civil servants to complete the National Defence Course (NDC) along with military officials to groom up them as competent workforce befitting to an independent country.

The Prime Minister was addressing the officials of Ministry of Public Administration during her visit to the ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat here today.

Sheikh Hasina said she introduced the NDC programme to allow both the military and civil officials to take training together. "But our civil administrative officials are very reluctant to go there for training," she observed saying more officials should complete the course considering its importance.

She also laid importance on enlarging the training period of the government officials and take measures so that each and every civil servant can get training to keep them abreast with the outside world. She hoped that civil servants would give highest priority to the matter.

The Prime Minister also laid importance for revision of the laws and policies keeping pace with the time saying the training policy 2003 of the civil servant should be changed to make them efficient and speedy and improving their quality as well.

State Minister for Public Administration Ismat Ara Sadique and secretary of the ministry Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury also spoke on the occasion while top officials of the civil administration and Prime Minister Office (PMO) were present.

Pointing out her government's stride to build a Digital Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said, the government wants to bring the whole administration under e-governance using the information technology to expedite the work.

Second Submarine cable will be connected very soon and steps were taken to launch country's independent satellite, she said adding the country will add to high-speed broadband after completion of the works.

Terming the Public Administration like the 'heart' of the government she said the government is fully dependent on the ministry for smooth running of the administration. "So it is the most important ministry for the government," she added.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh was an aimless country for 21 years after killing of Bangabandhu. The Awami League government ascertained the goal of the nation after coming to power in 1996, she said adding that "many neighbouring countries made them prosperous quickly, but Bangladesh couldn't unfortunately."

Pointing out the success of her government in the areas of improving the literacy rate, food production, power generation and health services during her government of 1996-2001 tenure, she said "we proved that we can. But our every success dashed down when BNP came to power in 2001."

"What is the necessity of the government if it cannot fulfill the basic demands of the people," she asked saying for the seven years from 2001 Bangladesh lagged behind in all areas including food security, education, health and other basic needs.

In view of this the Prime Minister laid importance on continuation of a government, and said discontinuation of a government disrupts development and everything changes when a government changes after five years.

Sheikh Hasina said Public Administration is the centre of the civil administration. Appointment, promotion, management of the field administration, reform, development of human resources and many other activities are dependent on the ministry.

She said, "Bangabandhu wanted to build an efficient, brilliant and honest administrative system and in view of this he pinned on giving up the legacy of colonial mentality and we have to look forward and make our mentality modern and creative."

Sheikh Hasina said the civil administration has a major role to move forward the country. She said the present government has set target to make Bangladesh as a middle income country by 2021 and a developed country by 2041, but many people are confused about it.

"But we have to keep in mind that we have liberated the country through a bloody war. We can accomplish any difficult task and we can achieve any goal if we work with utmost sincerity," she said adding, "we need specific goal, firm determination to do this."

She extended her sincere thanks to all officials, members of law enforcing agencies to help conduct the general election in 2013 and 2014 defying the threat and anarchy of BNP-Jamaat and anti-democratic elements.

"This election has created opportunity for us to serve the nation as I didn't come here as the ruler but a person to serve them," she said.

"My foremost goal is to serve the people, build the country with the spirit of the War of Liberation, and build a poverty and hunger free nation to allow our future generation a prosperous future and peaceful situation," she said.

Emphasizing on regular appointment, promotion, filling up of the important posts to keep the administration active, she said necessary policies and rules are being framed in this regard. She urged the officials concerned to expedite the process.

Sheikh Hasina said giving promotion in the administration was a big challenge for her government after coming to power in 1996 against many legal suits. But the government settled those cases and paved way for promotion in the civil administration.

"A total of 17,846 officers were given appointment through six civil service examination under Public Service Commission and process is going on to recruit 4,360 officers through 34th and 35th BCS," she said asking for expediting the process.

She also laid importance on making the appointment process more easy and open several wings to expedite the recruiting process particularly teachers, doctors and police.

The government has taken decision to recruit 50,000 police, she said urging the Public Service Commission (PSC) to expedite the process.