Politics-Bureaucracy Interface in Bangladesh: A Civil Service Management Perspective

Purpose of the paper- This paper analyzes mechanisms, strengths and limitations of recruitment, promotion, transfer of civil servants to point out the manner in which politics-bureaucracy operates in Bangladesh. Approach of the study- This article has reviewed available and relevant literatures on politics-bureaucracy interface and politico-administrative aspects of civil service management in Bangladesh. Findings- Our analysis indicates that politics-bureaucracy interface in Bangladesh is significantly blurred as politics has been making inroads into the bureaucracy through civil service management functions, such as in areas as of recruitment, promotion, transfer and training. In other words, bureaucrats also have been using the process to be involved in politics both at national and local levels to maximise their individual, professional, economic and social gains. Research Limitations-This article is a review one and thus it does not draw inference on politics-bureaucracy interface in Bangladesh based on empirical data. That is why it leaves an open space for future empirical study on this issue.

Research Implications- This article provides a structure and base for the future broad empirical study. By providing such base this article would also help the future researchers in understanding the important aspects of the issue studied. Practical Implications- This article illustrates a picture of Bangladesh bureaucracy and politics within the framework civil service management. This will knock the concerns of those who really want to bring about change in the public bureaucracy of Bangladesh. Value- This article has brought a new dimension to analyse politics-bureaucracy interface in Bangladesh, i.e., civil service management functions. It will immensely strengthen future researches argument on similar perspective.