Keep politics out of public institutions

We are quite concerned by the report that several BNP leaders appointed to top positions in government agencies and development authorities have retained their party positions. The government has appointed 17 current and former BNP and affiliated-organisation leaders to such posts, at least 15 of whom reportedly held party positions when they took office, violating conditions attached to government appointment. A case in point is BNP Forest and Environment Affairs Secretary Mohammad Mossaddique Hossain Bulbul, who was appointed the chairman of the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation (BFIDC) on July 23. Although his appointment required him to relinquish any other profession, he has retained his party post. Moreover, a BNP central office source said none of the appointees had formally resigned from their party positions.

The appointment of party leaders to government positions is itself a matter that requires careful consideration, particularly when the appointees are expected to oversee public institutions. Allowing them to retain their party positions raises serious questions about political neutrality, conflict of interest and the independence of these institutions. Reportedly, the appointment orders require appointees to relinquish any other profession, business or employment relationship with a government, semi-government or private institution or organisation before joining. The Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979 even have clear directives: Rule 25 prohibits government employees from being members of or associated with a political party or from participating in political activities.

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Unfortunately, we have seen the damaging effects of partisan appointments in public institutions before, particularly during the previous Awami League regime. More recently, the appointment of vice-chancellors to seven major public universities under the BNP government raised similar concerns, as most of the appointees had direct or indirect affiliations with the ruling party. We had warned that such political considerations could turn universities into extensions of political interests rather than centres of independent thought and learning. The same risk applies to government agencies.

The BNP must not repeat the practices it once criticised. It should break away from the culture of political patronage and the abuse of state institutions. Public appointments should be based on competence, integrity, and public interest. The government must therefore clarify the matter without delay, while the BNP should ensure that those taking up government posts relinquish their party responsibilities. Verbal assurances or treating resignation as a mere “formality” is not enough. This is an opportunity to establish a new standard of public administration by keeping party politics separate from public office. The politicisation of state institutions must stop once and for all.