Staff Reporter:
The Public Administration Reform Commission (PARC) in its report has recommenced reduction of number of ministries from 40 to 25 saying it would ensure better governance.
“Currently there are 43 ministries and 61 divisions. It is recommended that their number be re-duced their 25 and 40 after rational reshufflings,” read the report submitted yesterday to Chief Ad-viser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
The commission’s chairman, Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury handed over the report at the State Guest House Jamuna yesterday.
It also recommended categorizing of the ministries into five similar clusters namely Statutory Ad-ministration; Finance, Industry and Trade; Physical Infrastructure and Communication; Agricul-ture and Environment; and Human Resources and Social Development.
The government formed the PARC on October 3 last to propose reforms in public administration system to make them “pro-people, accountable, efficient and neutral”.
According to the commission they extended the four targets to six to make the administration more effective under short, medium and long term implementation plans.
Since the commencement of its work, the commission held 49 meetings and came up with a 17 chapter report incorporating over 200 recommendations.
The commission sent letter to 13 different political parties seeking advices from them to overhaul the administration.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Amra Bangladesh Party and Na-tional People’s Party submitted their suggestions in writing.
The commission exchanged views with the people at grassroots and field level public officers visit-ing eight districts and five upazilas across the country.
