The politicization of government institutions is one of the major political concerns in many countries including Bangladesh. Every government — especially every elected government — has put emphasis on the politicization of government institutions through a variety of ways including patronage appointment, party-based recruitment and loyalty-based promotion. The BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) government, which came to power through the 13th parliamentary elections, has made many party-based recruitments. But party-based recruitments prevent those who are meritorious and qualified and who deserve the position and lead to the sustenance of the public institutions that serve the interests of the ruling party, even when they are unreasoned, ultimately and unfairly making the government for the ruling party.
The elected government prefers the culture of politicization of public institutions for various reasons. Strengthening the ruling party position and maintaining control over government institutions, weakening the opposition and the intention to stay in power through exclusive support from the state apparatus are some main reasons. These reasons worked in all previous governments in Bangladesh, though there were differences in terms of the extent of politicization and the past BAL (Bangladesh Awami League) government took it to a new height. A new government tries to quickly make itself as strong as possible and replace the officials of the past government in public institutions including public universities, the judiciary, civil administration, police and state-owned financial institutions and continue it during its tenure.
Dhaka, Bangladesh (credit: https://pixabay.com/).
But a very pertinent side is how much depoliticization is possible by the elected government in a politically volatile country like Bangladesh. There are often threats of overthrowing or destabilizing the government, constant conspiracies by opposition parties and a lack of collaboration from the opposition even on national interests. The opposition — due to extreme political rivalry, deprivation and other causes — often tries to create chaotic political conditions without acceptable reasons and uses their party loyal government officials to realize both reasoned and unreasoned political agendas. For these, it is often difficult for any elected government to completely depoliticize government institutions alone and recruit at the top positions of various government institutions without any party consideration.
Politicization is not harmful altogether and some sorts of politicization are often beneficial. Some sort of political loyalty and party-based recruitments take place in certain positions in many democratic countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Norway, but there is a limitation and this does not reduce the space of others in most positions. Some sorts of politicization in countries like Bangladesh may be important for effective governance, providing a counterbalance to rigid bureaucratic structures and making sure that the elected government can implement its agenda. But political recruitments take place grossly in Bangladesh across levels, ranging from the central to sub-district levels, leading to concerns.
But ending politicization is desirable. At least, phasing out the culture of extreme politicization, a vital challenge in Bangladesh, is possible, even if it is difficult to completely avoid such a culture, and can turn it into an acceptable level. A portion of recruitment by the elected government needs to be made to ensure that those who are not affiliated with any party can get their space and make a difference in the institutions. This may be from a half to at least one-third of recruitments in top-level government posts, university vice chancellors and other top-ranked posts. These will help make more acceptable decisions in government institutions, ultimately making the government for all — not merely the ruling party.
Addressing the culture of politicization across all levels of the government institutions needs to be started somewhere and any elected government must initiate the change in such a culture in Bangladesh. But starting a change in the extant political culture is always better at present than in the future. The public expectations from the BNP government, which came to power with a two-thirds majority, are high due to a variety of causes including the extreme politicization by the BAL government and its impacts on various government institutions, politics and people. The present government needs to start making changes in such a culture.
But the role of the opposition is vital too. The opposition’s traditional roles especially subversive political activities, constant conspiracies and the culture of political threats are hindrances to political improvements and the depoliticization of the government institutions. The constructive role of the opposition is desirable especially for making changes in politics, though reasoned demand-based opposition and movements are not unreasoned and undesirable at all. But subsequent governments also need to increase depoliticization at all levels.
