The Ministry of Public Administration has issued a stern warning to public servants, reminding them of their obligation to adhere to the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979 and the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018. The circular, issued on the final day of the year 2024, highlighted a growing trend of demonstrations, sit-ins, strikes and other protest activities by public servants that tarnish their image and contravene established regulations. The ministry cautioned that violators would face disciplinary action for misconduct under these rules. Escalating Breaches Since October The issue first surfaced on October 5 when 25 cadre officials, under the banner of the Inter-Cadre Disparity Resolution Council, publicly rejected the Public Administration Reform Commission (PARC). Public Administration Reform Commission to recommend creating Cumilla, Faridpur divisions Their actions amounted to public dissent against government decisions, violating Section 30(a) of the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979. This defiance escalated on October 19 when the council held a meeting at Dhaka's Tula Bhaban, further solidifying their opposition to the commission. By November 16, the council convened a divisional conference in Rajshahi, where they branded the commission as biased and demanded its reconstitution. The movement gained momentum following a pivotal announcement on December 17 by PARC Chairman Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury. He proposed excluding the education and health cadres from the cadre system and recommended a 50-50 promotion ratio to the post of deputy secretary between administration cadre officers and other cadre officials. Chaos, instability prevail in public administration as chain of command collapses A Turning Point This announcement triggered widespread unrest among public servants. On December 21, officials from 25 cadres declared a protest movement—an unprecedented act for government employees. The next day, administration cadre officials gathered at the Secretariat to submit their demands to the senior secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration. Meanwhile, heated debates and counter-statements erupted on social media. In a dramatic move, officials from the 25 cadres formed a new organisation, the Association of Senior Pool Service, on 22 December, excluding administration cadre members. This act heightened inter-cadre tensions. The following day, the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Health Cadre Association rejected recommendations to abolish the Health Cadre, issuing a veiled threat that no cadre would exist if the Health Cadre were dissolved. Contractual appointments of two press ministers in UK and US terminated: Public Administration Ministry A Series of Unprecedented Protests On 24 December, officials from 25 cadres observed a pen-down strike for one hour.  The next day, administration cadre officials organised a protest meeting at the BIAM Foundation under the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association and the BCS Administration Multipurpose Cooperative Society. Speakers at the meeting included serving and retired officials, with some demanding the resignation of Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury within 48 hours. On the same day, officials from 25 cadres staged human chains across the country, marking a historic escalation of protest activities by public servants. Implications and Expert Opinions The ongoing violations of conduct rules by public servants, including administration cadre officials, represent a worrying breakdown of discipline within the government. Experts warn that if this trend continues, it could destabilise administrative order and degrade the quality of public services. They urge the government to address the issue with urgency to restore discipline and safeguard public sector efficiency.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday asked the public servants to carry out their utmost responsibility of serving the people to ensure they enjoy the benefits of national development. “You have to be the servants of the people and human beings. Serving people is the biggest matter. All of you have to work as per that direction,” she said. The prime minister said this while addressing a programme to distribute course certificates and course completion of the 73rd foundation training course at Bangladesh Public Administration Training Center (BOATC) in savar. She joined the programme virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban. She said that it is the responsibility of all to ensure the welfare of the people of this country. “This is our country. It is the responsibility of us to ensure the welfare of the mass people. This has to be kept in mind all the time,” she said. She asked the newly appointed government officials to devote themselves to the welfare of the people and development of the country. “If the people at grassroots level stay fine, then the economic development of the country becomes inevitable. No one can stop that,” she said. PM Hasina also asked the newly appointed public servants to utilise their intelligence and creativity for ensuring country's sustainable development. "A special focus should be given to ensure country's sustainable development," she said. She hoped that the recruits will be the soldiers in attaining the government's target to turn the country into a developed one by 2041. "I am giving the plans to make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country and you have to implement those," she told the young officials. Read: PM Hasina: Govt devising ways to bring down prices of essentials

Although the government has shrunk the percentage of expenditure on pay and allowances of the public servants against the total budget in the running fiscal, it will be back  from fiscal 2022-23. Likewise, the government spending on goods and services will see slight slowdown in the next fiscal, but witness rise from fiscal 2022-23. According to an official document, the projection of expenditure on pay and allowances of the public servants is 12.4 percent against the total budget, which is Tk 814.3 billion, while it will be 12.5 percent, which is Tk 925.2 billion. Expenditure on Pay and Allowances was 13.8 percent of the total budget in 2014-15 fiscal, which was Tk 288.2 billion. Also read: Govt focuses on less current expenditure and increased capital spending: official document However, the document stated that a little upswing was noticed in 2015-16 (16.7 percent, which was Tk 400.5 billion) that continued till 2016-17 fiscal (18.2 percent which was Tk 490.4 billion) due to the introduction of a new pay scale by the government. It was reduced to 14.8 percent (Tk 478.5 billion) and 13.6 percent (Tk 534 billion) of total expenditure during fiscal 2017-18 and fiscal 2018-19. Likewise, it has further been reduced to 12.2 percent which is Tk 656.1 billion in the revised budget of 2020-21 fiscal while it was 12.7 percent or Tk 569 billion. It is expected to remain at the same level in the medium term (2023-24 fiscal). In the fiscal 2021-22 expenditure in pay and allowances is 11.8 percent of the total budget, which is Tk 713.5 billion. The document said that the expenditure on goods and services as a percentage of total expenditure remained around 7 percent during fiscal 2016-17 to fiscal 2019-20. In 2015-16 fiscal and 2016-17 fiscal it was 7.6 percent or Tk 182.1 billion, and 7.6 percent or Tk 205.5 billion respectively. In 2017-18 fiscal and 2018-19 fiscal the expenditure was 7.3 percent or Tk 234.8 billion and 73 percent or Tk 285.7 billion. In 2019-20 the percentage was dropped to 7 percent while the amount was Tk 289.8 billion. To keep this outlay within a comfortable range through budgetary process, government has taken several measurers that includes enhanced transparency of transfer through e-GP and improved public procurement management. Also read: Govt targets 17% expenditure of GDP for next two fiscals: Document The expenditure was 6.3 percent for fiscal 2020-21, which was Tk 337.7 billion. In the medium term, the allocation on these heads has been estimated to follow a steady trend. In 2021-22 fiscal the amount is estimated at 6.2 percent of total expenditure, which is Tk 373.4 billion, while in 2023-24 fiscal this will be 6.6 percent or Tk 488.8 billion and Tk 426.5 billion or 6.5 percent of the total budget for 2022-23 fiscal. Amid the coronavirus crisis, the government had taken up a comprehensive plan with four main strategies. These are: discouraging luxury expenditures, prioritising government spending that creates jobs, creating loan facilities through commercial banks at subsidised interest rate for the affected industries and businesses, and expanding the coverage of the government’s social safety net programmes. Public expenditure broadly includes all government consumption, investment and transfer payments. Current expenditure and capital expenditure are the two major categories of budget allocation. Current expenditure consists of wages and salaries paid to the government employees, purchase of goods and services, subsidy and transfer payments and interest paid for domestic and foreign loans. Expenditures of account of 'food account operation' also includes into current expenditure category. On the other hand, capital expenditure comprises addition to and creation of productive assets. The Annual Development Programme (ADP) and non-ADP capital expenditure are the two major categories of capital formation through government expenditures. Moreover, capital expenditure includes loans and advances, development programme financed from revenue budget, non-ADP project, and non-ADP FFW (Food For Work) and transfer. Considering the context of developing countries like Bangladesh, expanding the size of current expenditure is important for improving the quality of public service delivery and meeting the demand for maintaining the existing infrastructure network. On the other hand, growth of capital expenditure is desirable to meet the growing demand for public investment.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has asked the government for details on houses owned by public servants in Canada's "Begum Para."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has lauded the role of public servants who have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis response.    "And I say directly to these inspiring public servants: We are all deeply indebted to you for your remarkable acts of service to humankind," he said mentioning the role of nurses, doctors and paramedics who provide life-saving care.   In a message marking the United Nations Public Service Day on Tuesday, the UN chief said as the world continues to grapple with the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, public servants have been on the frontlines of the crisis response.    Guterres also mentioned about the sanitation workers who disinfect and clean public spaces; the transportation workers who keep busses and trains running and the teachers who educate our children both on- and offline.   "And the public health officials, data managers and statisticians who provide vital and reliable information on the transmission and prevention of the disease," said the UN chief.   He said many of these dedicated individuals have carried out their work in dangerous conditions, with high human interaction and without access to personal protective equipment.    And some have lost their lives to COVID-19 in the process, Guterres said.   "Today, as we honour these essential workers and so many more, we must also reflect on how to better protect, recognize and invest in their well-being as we build back better, together," said the UN chief.