An Assignment

On
Organization of a ministry in Bangladesh

Course information:
Course Title: Politics & Administration in Bangladesh
Course Code: MHRDIR 503

Submitted To:
Ahsan Abdullah
Assistant Professor
Department of Public Administration
Jahangirnagar University

Submitted By:
Muyin Muhtadiul Haque
Class ID: 200309
Batch: 12 (Fall-2020)
Masters in Human Resources Development & Industrial Relations,
Department of Public Administration,
Jahangirnagar University

Date of Submission: 18th June, 2021

 Organization of a ministry in Bangladesh

The Constitution
• The Constitution of Bangladesh is the supreme law of Bangladesh. It proclaims
Bangladesh as a secular democratic republic; declares the fundamental rights and
freedoms of Bangladeshi citizens, spells out the fundamental principles of state
policy, and establishes the structure and functions of the executive, legislative and
judicial branches of the republic.

Parliamentary Form of Government

• Bangladesh is governed under a Westminster style parliamentary form of
government.
• The Prime Minister, who commands the support of the majority of the MPs, is the
head of the government and chief executive of the country.
• Members of Parliament elect a President as the head of the state. The roles and
functions of the President and the Prime Minister defined by the constitution of the
Republic.

Legal Structure of Administration of Bangladesh

As per the constitution of the republic it comprises three basic organs:
• 1. Legislative Branch
• 2. Executive Branch
• 3. Judicial Branch

In the constitution of Bangladesh, the article of 48 to 58 about executive branch, article 65

to 93 about legislative branch, article 94 to 116 judicial branch and article 59 to 60 about
local government are discussed clearly.
1. The Legislature
 The name of the legislature of Bangladesh is known as "JATIYA SANGSAD". The
legislative branch of the government is a unicameral Parliament, or Jatiya
Sangsad (House of the Nation), which makes the laws for the nation.
 The Parliament of Bangladesh is a unicameral legislature consisting of 300
members. They are directly elected from an equal number of territorial
constituencies, which is one from each constituency, on the basis of adult
franchise. There are 50 reserved seats for women who are elected by the directly
elected Members.
 The leader of the party (or alliance of parties) holding the majority of seats is the
Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and so the head of the government. The President
of Bangladesh, who is the ceremonial head of state, is chosen by Parliament.
 Parliament of Bangladesh (known as the House of the Nation) is vested with the
legislative powers of the Republic. Parliament is the apex institution in
Bangladesh’s accountability system.
2. The Executive
 Bangladesh has a parliamentary form of government with the Prime Minister as
its chief executive and the President as head of state, The Prime minister heads
the cabinet that is collectively responsible to the national Parliament.
  The President: The President is the head of state, a largely ceremonial post. The
president is elected by the legislature every five years and has normally limited
powers.
 The Prime Minister: The prime minister is ceremonially appointed by the
president, commanding the confidence of the majority of the MPs. The real
power is held by the Prime Minister, who is the head of government.
 The Cabinet: The cabinet is composed of ministers selected by the prime
minister and appointed by the president.
 The Executive is organized on the basis of Ministries and, within Ministries, by
Divisions.
 A politically appointed Minister heads each Ministry, while a permanent civil
servant (usually a Secretary) is the Ministry’s administrative head and Chief
Accounting Officer.

Secretariat in Bangladesh
• Secretariat: Secretariat is the nerve-centre of the administrative machinery and all
governmental activities. It includes primarily the policy level organizations when
referred to collectively. It is the collected office of almost all ministries.
• The Secretariat is responsible for policy, and oversight and coordination of
government departments, agencies, field administration (divisions, districts and
upazilas).
• Ministry: Ministry is defined as the division or a group of divisions constituted as a
ministry.
• Division: Division is defined as a self-contained administrative unit responsible for
the conduct of business of the government in a distinct and specified sphere and
declared as such by the government. For example, Ministry of Finance contains four
divisions
1. Finance Division
2. Economic Relations Division
3. Internal Resources Division
4. Bank and Financial Institutions Division
• Attached Department: Attached department is defined as a department which has
direct relation with a ministry/division and has been declared as such by the
government. The attached department is usually, depending on size and importance,
headed by a functionary called the Director General. The attached department acts
as the executing arm of the ministry/division to which it is attached.
• Example: Department of Health of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Subordinate Offices: A subordinate office is an office of the Government which has
not been declared as attached department and normally does not deal directly with
any ministry/division. Subordinate offices generally work as field agencies
responsible for detailed execution of government policies. They normally function
under the direction of attached departments. However, some subordinate offices are
also placed directly under the concerned ministries/divisions in view of the fact that
the volume of executive work in such offices is not considerable.
• Example: Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) of Ministry of Public
Administration (MOPA).
Administration of the Ministry
• The ministers/state ministers/deputy ministers:
• The minister is responsible for conducting the business of his ministry/division unless
otherwise directed by the Prime Minister. No important policy decision is taken
without the approval of the Cabinet. However, the ministers are made responsible
for policy matters and their implementation. They are further made responsible for
conducting the business of their respective ministries in the parliament unless
otherwise directed by the president. The ministries perform policy-making functions
while the numerous subordinate offices execute policies and decisions at the field
levels.
• Secretary: Secretary as administrative head under the executive control of the
Hon'ble Minister. Secretary also acts as a Principal Accounting Officer of the Ministry
and organizations under the Ministry.
• Additional Secretary/ a Joint Secretary: An additional secretary/ a joint secretary
within his sphere assumes full responsibility and submits all cases directly to the
minister for orders. Such cases will be returned to him through the secretary.
• Deputy Secretary: A deputy secretary is empowered to dispose of all cases in which
no major question of policy is involved or which, under the rules or standing orders
he is competent to dispose of.
• Assistant Secretary/Senior Assistant Secretary: An assistant secretary/senior
assistant secretary can dispose of all cases where there are clear precedents, and no
question of deviation from such precedent is involved. In case of doubt, he may seek
instructions from his superior officer. An assistant secretary/senior assistant
secretary is ordinarily assisted by an administrative officer and other staff.

Hierarchy in the Administration:

Senior Secretary
↑
Secretary
↑
Additional Secretary
↑
Joint Secretary
↑
Deputy Secretary
↑
Senior Assistant Secretary
↑
Assistant Secretary

Ministry
• Secretary: Secretary as administrative head under the executive control of the
Hon'ble Minister. Secretary also act as a Principal Accounting Officer of the Ministry
and organizations under the Ministry.
• Wing: Wing is composed of branches. Additional Secretary & Joint Secretary are the
head of the wing.
 • Branch: Branch is composed of sections. Deputy Secretary is the Branch head and
works under the wing.
• Section: Section is the basic working unit. Senior Assistant Secretary/Assistant
Secretary is the Section head & works under the branch.

The Judiciary
• The Judiciary of Bangladesh consists of a Supreme Court, subordinate courts and
tribunals. The Supreme Court of Bangladesh comprises the Appellate Division and
the High Court Division. It is the apex Court of the country and other Courts and
Tribunals are subordinate to it.
• The Supreme Court:
Bangladesh Supreme Court is the Highest court of Bangladesh, having two wings
namely;
1.Appellate Division
2.High Court Division
 The Subordinate Courts and Tribunals:
1. Civil Courts
2. Criminal Courts
3. Administrative Tribunals

1. Civil Courts

Court of District Judge

↑
Court of Additional District Judge
↑
Court of Joint District Judge
↑
Court of Senior Assistant Judge
↑
Court of Assistant Judge

2. Criminal Courts
The criminal judiciary is divided into two
1. The Court of Session
2. The Magistracy

1. The Court of Session

Court of Session Judge
↑
Court of Additional Session Judge
↑
Court of Assistant Session Judge

2. The Magistracy
The Magistracy of Bangladesh is divided into two classes:
1.The Judicial Magistrate
 2.The Executive Magistrate

3. Tribunals
The administrative tribunals are Nari-o-Shishu Nirjaton Daman
Tribunals, Special Tribunals etc. Such courts and tribunals spread all over the
country at district levels.

The Administrative Hierarchy of Bangladesh

a) Central Administration:
• The government of Bangladesh has a two-tier administrative system. The upper tier
is the central secretariat at the national level consisting of the ministries and
divisions to provide policies and to perform clearinghouse functions. The other tier
consists of ‘line’ departments/directorates attached to the ministries and divisions
that are mainly responsible for general administration, service delivery to citizens
and implementation of various government development programs at the sub-
national level.
b) Field Administration:
Division: Division is the main administrational unit of field administration. There are
eight divisions in Bangladesh. These are Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, sylhet,
Rangpur and Mymensingh. A Divisional Commissioner (joint secretary) or an equivalent
officer of Bangladesh government is in charge of a Division. Each Division consists of some
districts. All administrative responsibilities depend on the officer in charge of the Division on
behalf of the central administration.
District: After division District is one of the important administrative units of
Bangladesh. There are 64 districts in Bangladesh. Normally a District/Deputy Commissioner
(deputy secretary or a joint secretary of Bangladesh government) administrates a district.
Some subordinate officers co-operate the district in charge. A district comprises some of
upazilas to overlook overall function of the upazila.
Upazila: Upazila is the last administrational unit of Bangladesh. There are 491
upazilas and more than 635 thanas (police stations) in Bangladesh. Upazila Nirbahi Officer
(UNO) is in charge of an upazila who is a senior assistant secretary of Bangladesh. UNO looks
over the whole welfare of the upazila.
Field Administration:

Divisional Commissioner
↑
Additional Divisional Commissioner
↑
Deputy Commissioner
↑
Additional Deputy Commissioner
↑
Upazila Nirbahi Officer