Officials of the BCS (Administration) cadre have taken to social media, advocating for the establishment of a distinct service named the “Bangladesh Administrative Service.” To garner public support, they have created and shared unique logos on Facebook. These logos feature three distinct designs: one depicts a red circle with the map of Bangladesh, a golden crown of water lilies, and a green laurel wreath; another features a golden crown without the map; and the third includes a red circle devoid of any map.
Both junior and senior officers are posting these logos from their personal profiles while expressing their demands. However, as of this report, no dedicated page has been created to promote the campaign. The Facebook page of the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association also remains silent on the issue, still displaying a mourning banner from August 15.
The demand for a separate service coincides with recommendations from the Public Administration Reform Commission, which proposed allocating 50% of promotions at the level of Deputy Secretary to administration cadre officers, with the remaining 50% for other cadres. Additionally, the commission suggested excluding the education and health sectors from the cadre system. These proposals have sparked discontent among officials from various cadres, with administration cadre officers calling for the dissolution of the “cadre” system in favor of a service-oriented structure.
In a widely circulated Facebook post, an officer argued, “The term ‘cadre’ carries negative connotations for the general public. It doesn’t suit the identity of a government servant. Neither I nor anyone in the administration family wishes to be identified as a ‘cadre.’ We work for the country, and service is our priority. Let us serve through the Bangladesh Administrative Service. Abolish the administration cadre and establish an independent service with separate recruitment examinations.”
The movement, which began on Saturday, has gained momentum on social media. Advocates describe the creation of an independent and autonomous Bangladesh Administrative Service as the most effective reform for public administration. Officials are spreading slogans such as, “No discrimination, no inter-cadre hostility—let’s move beyond the cadre system and establish the Bangladesh Administrative Service.”
The Public Administration Reform Commission, led by Abdul Muid Chowdhury and Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Md. Mokhlesur Rahman, has proposed its final report be submitted to the government by December 31. The commission’s recommendations include promotional examinations for deputy and joint secretary positions, a 50-50 promotion quota for administration and other cadres at the deputy secretary level, and the separation of the education and health sectors from the cadre system.
Following these recommendations, protests have emerged from administration, education, and health cadre officers. Administration cadre officers have demanded exclusive appointments from deputy secretary to secretary-level positions, while education and health cadre officers have opposed their exclusion from the cadre system.
In parallel, the Anti-Cadre Disparity Elimination Council, comprising representatives from 25 cadres, held a meeting on Saturday in Dhaka. The council announced a series of protests, including pen-down strikes, human chains, and rallies, to demand ministry-specific management by cadre officers and the abolition of the promotion quota system.
The announced programs include statements from cadre associations on Monday, a one-hour pen-down strike in all offices on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., and human chains in front of offices on December 26 during the same time. Additionally, rallies will be organized in divisions that have yet to hold such events, culminating in a national assembly in Dhaka on January 4, where further actions will be determined.
