Bangladesh’s interim government has been grappling with a significant administrative slowdown since coming to power in August.

Ministries, including the Ministry of Public Administration, face slow work progress, and development projects appear similarly stagnant. An atmosphere of uncertainty and fear is felt among government officials that is contributing to the slowdown.

A visit to the secretariat revealed concerns among officials in various departments. There are widespread concerns about the possibility of transfers or reassignment to less desirable roles, especially among those appointed or promoted during the Awami League government.

As a result, there is little momentum in accomplishing tasks. Some ministries still have secretaries from the previous government who are worried about being made Officers on Special Duty (OSD) or facing compulsory retirement.

Meanwhile, eight secretaries who were denied promotions during the Awami League’s tenure and have now been reappointed on contractual basis are facing difficulties in adapting to their roles. Current civil servants serving under Sheikh Hasina’s administration appear hesitant to fully accept them, resulting in slow operational progress. “These new appointments are finding it difficult to fit in with others as they return to management after long gaps in service,” an official said.

Some key ministries reported that interim government advisors had ordered budget cuts for projects initiated during the previous administration. Consultants take time to understand ongoing projects and in some cases work has been halted. There is no sign that the interim administration plans to implement new projects, raising concerns about the overall pace of development.

In addition to project-related delays, various development tasks and outreach at the field level are also not distributed properly. Complaints emerged regarding pensions for widows, the elderly and the disabled, especially those under the Ministry of Social Welfare. Rural development projects such as “Kabita” and “Kabikha” under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief have also been stopped.

Sharmeen S Murshid, advisor to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, attributed the difficulties to the resistance of the current government staff. “When a government takes office, it needs its own team,” he said at an event this week. “For things to run smoothly, the old team needs to step aside.”

Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, advisor to the Ministry of Labor and Employment and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, also expressed similar concerns and said, “There has been a revolution in our country. After the revolution, things are not the same as they were before. However, we stick to the previous system. Some members of the administration do not cooperate and create stagnation. If necessary, the government “will consider replacing uncooperative officials.”

Admitting the stagnation of the working environment, Information and Publication Advisor Nahid Islam, at the press conference held last month, said, “Yes, there is stagnation in the management. We are observing this and we are faced with lack of cooperation from various places. Hopefully the stagnation will continue.” It will fall apart soon.”

The problem is exacerbated by the absence of appointed secretaries in at least seven ministries and departments. Additional secretaries running these departments are merely carrying out routine tasks without taking any policy decisions, contributing to the overall lack of progress.

Amid this slowdown, officials from various parties who are deprived of promotions are demanding proper placement in senior positions. The contracts of at least 100 officials appointed on contractual basis during the Awami League regime have been terminated. In contrast, eight officials dismissed during Hasina’s tenure were reappointed as secretaries and subsequently promoted to senior secretary positions.

Among these appointees, Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid, Md Siraj Uddin Mia, Dr Mokhles-ur-Rahman, Dr MA Momen, MA Akmal Hossain Azad, Ehsanul Haque and Dr Nasimul Ghani are said to now have significant control over the administration. Additionally, Siddiq Zobair and ASM Saleh Ahmed were appointed as senior secretaries in the education and land ministries respectively.

The lack of promotions for long-serving officials from other parties has led to discontent. Some claim that even their junior colleagues outrank them. Retired additional secretary Abu Muhammad Yusuf said, “Although I was qualified, I was not made a secretary. Officials who were subordinate to me have now reached senior positions.”

Dr Mokhles-ur-Rahman, senior secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, explained that it will take time to resolve these problems, which have been going on for over 16 years. Expressing optimism, he said, “We hope to complete the placement of suitable people in all ministries and departments soon, which will accelerate progress.”

The interim government faces significant challenges as it tries to restore momentum in governance while managing the demands of marginalized officials and overcoming resistance within the ranks.