Bifurcation of home ministry
The bifurcation
plan must live up to the public expectation for rendering swift and efficient public service
Aiming to reform and speed up administrative functions the ministry, the government has finalised the split of the home ministry into two divisionsthe Public Security Division and Security Service Division. According to the Cabinet Secretary a gazette notification will be issued in this regard after the president approves the decision. We believe the bifurcation of the home ministry into two separate divisions would make execution of regular tasks faster and easier. However, split-ups or increased number of newly created government posts dont necessarily ensure improved quality of public service. The government must simultaneously focus to introduce an overall qualitative change within the administration so to ensure better service.
According to the finalised proposal, the police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar and village defence parties (VDPs), Bangladesh Coast Guard, International Crimes Tribunal(s) and National Telecommunications and Monitoring Centre (NTMC) would now operate under the Public Security Division while the Directorate of Immigration and Passports, Fire Services and Civil Defence and the Department of Narcotics Control will function under the Security Service Division.
It must be emphasised that, the two divisions of the ministrys job together is to ensure security for life and property, maintain law and order, conduct rescue operations, investigate criminal cases, combat criminals, crimes and militancy, ensure humane treatment to prisoners, protect the border and coastal belt, check smuggling, formulate immigration- and emigration-related policies, and combat trafficking in humans and drugs. It should be remembered that the duties of our civil servants that need to be monitored as well. The government must ensure that it employs skilled, credible, honest and dedicated public servants in this regard.
At present, there are 257 posts in the home ministry, including those of senior secretaries, five additional secretaries, eleven joint secretaries and twenty deputy secretaries. According to the ministrys organogramme, a total of 460 posts260 for the Security Service Division and 200 for the Public Security Divisionhave been created. We expect the stated vacant posts to be filled up with fitting individuals irrespective of any sort of affiliations.
With regard to the appointment of an additional state minister for the bifurcated ministry, the government should keep in mind that instead of promoting any political agenda he or she must work hard to ensure quality public service. Political leaders or ministers of all ranks for that matter should be able to spell out their requirement to the bureaucracy and distinguish the jurisdiction of bureaucracy in the affairs of the state.
Lastly, the bifurcation plan must live up to the public expectation for rendering swift and efficient public service; otherwise the restructuring of the home ministry will not serve its purpose.
