Bangladesh Public Service Commission Unveils One-Year Reform Report

The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) today launched its reform report, From Gridlock to Governance Renewal: One Year of Institutional Reform, at a high-level national event in Dhaka.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bangladesh and the Government of Switzerland provided technical support through strategic planning, competency-based assessment, research, and digital transformation.

The event brought together senior government officials, civil society representatives, media, and development partners, marking a significant milestone in Bangladesh's civil service recruitment reform. Opening with remarks by Professor Dr. Mobasser Monem, Chairman of BPSC, the event was followed by a presentation outlining key challenges, achievements, and the Commission's strategic direction.

The report highlights how the reconstituted Commission, formed in October 2024 amid strong public demand for reform, inherited multiple overlapping BCS examination cycles, a backlog in non-cadre recruitment, and systemic weaknesses in examination processes. Within its first thirteen months, BPSC cleared the backlog, completed two special BCS examinations in approximately three months each, reduced examination costs by up to 80 per cent, lowered application fees from BDT 700 to BDT 200, and developed its first Five-Year Strategic Plan (2025-2029), anchored in meritocracy, integrity, impartiality, and efficiency.

Md. Ismail Zabihullah, Adviser to the Honourable Prime Minister, Ministry of Public Administration, emphasized the importance of institutional independence, stating, "Civil service reform is not merely about selecting candidates; it is about choosing the future custodians of our nation, ensuring that merit rises above privilege, integrity outweighs influence, and every young citizen, regardless of background, has a fair and equal chance to serve and earn the public's trust."

Md Abdur Bari, MP, State Minister, Ministry of Public Administration noted, "We must recruit based on merit and skill, yet too often we find a gap in competencies during evaluation. Every institution and stakeholder involved in this process must function independently and on equal footing to uphold fairness and quality".

Professor Dr. Mobasser Monem, Chairman of BPSC, said, "We must ensure financial and operational autonomy, while building a strong pool of experts to carry out proper assessments. Integrating competence-based interview training into the initial modules of BPSC and other training institutions will be key to truly mainstreaming this approach."

Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, Adviser to the Honourable Prime Minister, Policy and Strategy, noted, "We need to introduce psychometric tests at the initial stage to better assess who is suited for the BCS. This will help ensure merit is identified and upheld from the very beginning".

Sonali Dayaratne, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, said, "Merit-based recruitment systems require continuous commitment and strong institutions. What BPSC has demonstrated is that reform is possible, and sustained partnerships will be critical to ensuring long-term impact."

Prof. Dr. Mamun Ahmed, Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC), Prof. Dr. Chowdhury Saima Ferdous, Learned Member, BPSC, Major General (Rtd.) Dr. Md Anwarul Islam, Learned Member, BPSC, Md Sarwar Jahan Bhuiyan, PhD, Secretary, BPSC Secretariat also spoke at the event.

The event also featured a high-level panel discussion on strengthening meritocracy and public trust in civil service recruitment, bringing together representatives from government, academia, and development partners.

The launch marks an important step in advancing a more transparent, efficient, and merit-based civil service system in Bangladesh. It is a part of UNDP Bangladesh's Strengthening Institutions, Policies and Services (SIPS) Project which focuses on strengthening public institution capacity, improving policy environments, and utilizing technology for better governance.