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Salahuddin Ahmed, Bangladesh’s Home Minister, has urged public officials to move beyond years of politicisation and serve citizens with neutrality, integrity and professionalism.
Speaking at the opening of a four-day workshop at the BCS Administration Academy in Shahbag on Sunday, he said the civil service must break away from the administrative practices of the past 17 years and evolve into a truly people-centric institution.
“The civil service is the main driving force of the state. Officials must see themselves as public servants—not rulers—and work to meet the high expectations people now have from the government,” he said.
The workshop, titled “Efficient, Citizen-Friendly and Accountable Public Administration: Strategies for Delivering Government Commitments,” was organised to mark National Public Service Day 2026.
Ahmed stressed the need for transparency and accountability at every level of governance, warning that programmes and workshops must deliver real benefits rather than remain symbolic.
He also highlighted the urgent need to reform the country’s statistical system, alleging that key national data had been distorted in the past.
Strengthening the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, he said, is essential for evidence-based policymaking.
Emphasising economic priorities, the adviser underscored the importance of agriculture and remittances, calling for the development of agro-based industries and the expansion of vocational training to build a skilled workforce.
He added that revitalising family planning efforts is under consideration to address population growth.
Concluding his remarks, Ahmed said that while policies are set at the political level, it is the responsibility of the bureaucracy to implement them effectively, strictly within legal frameworks and in line with the government’s mandate.
