Making Government Work: An Analysis of the Regimes and Reforms in Bangladesh, 1971-2021

Abstract

This paper analyzes the trajectory of public sector reforms, presenting a historical and critical analysis of administrative or governmental management reforms in Bangladesh from 1971 to 2021. It categorizes reform efforts focusing on how various political regimes and institutional actors have approached the challenge of improving management in government. The analysis reveals that despite a multitude of reform commissions and policy interventions over the decades, actual improvements in the quality of governance and service delivery have been limited. The work highlights systemic challenges and failures in implementation. A central argument is that reforms in Bangladesh have largely been top-down, fragmented, and disconnected from the realities of administrative practice and citizen service. The paper emphasizes that these reform efforts often lacked continuity, political ownership, and a citizen-centric focus. It also highlights the need for a shift from externally driven, prescriptive models to citizen-centric, context-specific strategies grounded in management principles. The recent reforms of the post-2024 revolution are out of scope for the current paper and are subject to further research.