Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on public administration officials to move beyond a bureaucratic mindset and act as “servants and friends of people”, stressing that their integrity, efficiency and accountability are central to the government’s success.
Speaking on Saturday at the Bangladesh Institute of Administration and Management (BIAM) Foundation Auditorium in Dhaka, he said officials were the critical link between policymaking and implementation. “Your honesty, competence and accountability form one of the key foundations of the government’s success,” he said.
He reiterated that the government remained committed to delivering every promise made in its election manifesto. “The people have given their verdict in favour of our manifesto. Therefore, the present democratic government is committed to implementing the election manifesto and every clause and every commitment of the July Charter signed before the people,” he said, describing those pledges as “our contract with the people”.
Tarique Rahman, who also serves as chairman of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party, made the remarks after laying the foundation stone and inaugurating a training centre-cum-dormitory building at the BIAM Foundation in Eskaton.
Addressing senior officials, he said their responsibilities extended beyond administrative functions to ensuring the continuity, stability and effectiveness of the state. He noted that their decisions could affect families, regions or the entire nation, making their duties not only administrative but also moral and constitutional.
“In building a strong, accountable, lawful and people-friendly state system, you are the main driving force,” he said, adding that national development depends on their professionalism, efficiency and judgement.
Highlighting global changes, he said the world had entered the era of artificial intelligence and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, requiring public administration to adapt quickly. “The use of AI, automation and digital technologies can make our administration more efficient, transparent and accountable,” he said, adding that the government aims to deliver services to citizens’ doorsteps through digital systems.
He also stressed the need to improve the business environment through simplified processes such as single-window clearance, one-stop services and fully digital workflows. He said the country’s development vision must be inclusive, sustainable and humane, ensuring benefits reach all sections of society and reducing inequality.
The prime minister highlighted the role of women and young people as drivers of growth and said environmental protection and climate resilience must be integrated into policymaking.
Referring to the BIAM Foundation, he said it was established on 29 December 1991 and later transformed into its current form in November 2002. He described the new building as part of a long-term commitment to strengthening administrative capacity and leadership development.
“This building is not just an infrastructure; let it become a vibrant centre of knowledge practice, leadership development, and exchange of experience,” he said.
He emphasised that modern administrative competence requires not only knowledge of rules but also the use of technology, data analysis, quick decision-making and a creative approach to public service. The government, he said, is working to modernise training systems, expand advanced courses and increase opportunities for research and policy-focused education.
Tarique Rahman said the current administration reflects the aspirations of citizens seeking accountable and welfare-oriented governance, noting that the mass uprising of July and August 2024 reaffirmed that “the people are the true owners of this state”. He urged officials to prioritise public welfare, stressing that a merit-based, transparent and people-friendly administration is essential for building a modern Bangladesh.
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