Support for a party must show at the ballot box, not in office: PM Tarique Rahman

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman does not consider it a fault for government officials to have personal support for a political party. But he made it clear that support for any political party must show at the ballot box, not in a government office.

He said this in a written speech delivered on Sunday (8 November) at the closing ceremony of the 81st foundation training course at the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC).

Congratulating the new officers, the head of government said, “Your first and foremost identity is that you are officers of the public administration. Your job is to serve the people.”

He said it must be ensured that ordinary citizens who come to an office seeking any help are not harassed in any way.

In this regard, the prime minister reminded them of a “golden rule”: “Treat others how you want to be treated” — that is, treat people who come seeking service the way you yourself would expect to be treated by others.

Noting that the Bangladesh Civil Service currently has 26 cadres, the prime minister said the nature of work may differ by subject and workplace, but an administration endowed with “skill, honesty and human values” is essential for the overall success of a government.

Calling on them to be humane within the bounds of the law, Tarique Rahman gave an example. He said sending someone back merely by saying “it is wrong, bring it corrected” when they arrive with a wrong application form is neither illegal nor unjust.

But pointing out the mistake specifically and advising them where and to whom to go to get it corrected is an expression of humanity, he said. The people of the country expect not only orders and instructions from you, but also humanity.

Directing them not to compromise on principles and ethics for a posting to a preferred position, the prime minister said every post in the public administration is important for the state and the government.

He said that sometimes, for a posting or promotion to a preferred post, some people compromise their professional skill and honesty. Being mentally prepared to serve anywhere in the country, in any post, is the ultimate professionalism. It must be remembered that just as a government is not permanent, no post in the public administration is permanent for anyone.

On implementing the present government’s political agenda, he said the present government is implementing its political agenda, and it is doing so through the administration. That is because the people voted this government into the responsibility of running the state precisely to implement this agenda.

The election manifesto given before the national election is now the people’s document, he said. It is the government’s expectation that you will carry out the administrative work of implementing that manifesto of the people with sincerity.

The prime minister said the positive mindset of officials is most effective in reducing delays in administration and making government services easier and more citizen-friendly.

At the end of his speech, the prime minister stressed environmental protection and cleanliness, saying that if we keep our homes, offices and surroundings clean, we will be able to build a clean environment and a clean country for future generations.