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The role of the bureaucracy in policymaking in Bangladesh

The policymaking roles and responsibilities of political and bureaucratic executives are often difficult to distinguish. Taking the example of Bangladesh, this article argues that the role of the bureaucracy in policymaking is undermined by excessive political influence, the bureaucracy’s lack of effective engagement with civil society and non-governmental organisations, and a decline in bureaucratic capacities in terms of policy support and policy management. Bureaucrats lose objectivity in policymaking as undue political inference and partisan interests override neutral expertise. Policy-relevant insights from the community do not feed into policy processes because of a bureaucratic reluctance to engage regularly with civil society organisations, think tanks and the media. A steady decline in the educational quality and professional standards of public officials results in poor capacity to deal with policy issues. The analysis suggests that instead of tussling with political executives in the exercise of power and authority, bureaucrats must better utilise their knowledge, expertise and experience by engaging meaningfully in policy matters that have a direct impact on citizens. Bureaucratic ownership of key aspects of policymaking is a critical factor in expediting socio-economic development in a country such as Bangladesh.