Merit-based recruitment: the key to effective public administration in Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) is like the nucleus of country’s overall development. Brilliant graduates wish to join BCS and contribute to the prosperity of the nation. However, it is not that easy to join BCS for all meritorious graduates. Due to quota or preserved post in greater part of BCS, they are denied from the service of the nation. However, Bangladesh needs an effective public administration to turn up her long-term vision to be a middle-income country by 2021. Nonetheless, for an effective and dynamic public administration, recruitment of talented, hard working and committed personnel are essential. In this perspective, the study intends to evaluate the present recruitment system of BCS, analyzes its problems, and tries to find out the possible solution. In addition, it tries to know the idea and observation of present and future civil servants regarding present recruitment system and overall BCS. It collects primary data from the respondents before analyzing and providing some policy recommendations. It also compares and contrasts, why BCS needs merit not quota. Finally, the study proposes a model for Merit-based Recruitment in BCS with some assumptions.