The Accountability Deficit in Bangladesh’s Public Sector: A Missed Opportunity for Resilience

As Bangladesh grapples with the complex challenge of rebuilding a resilient nation, one crucial element remains conspicuously absent from the conversation: accountability. In both the political and bureaucratic spheres, the lack of responsibility undermines attempts to drive sustainable development. Without addressing this accountability deficit, Bangladesh risks perpetuating inefficiencies and mismanagement, leaving its citizens to bear the brunt of a dysfunctional system.

Consider, for a moment, the difference between the private and public sectors. In private enterprises, employees are measured by key performance indicators (KPIs) and are well aware that their compensation is tied to their performance. If they fail to meet targets, the company's revenues—and by extension, their salaries—are affected. This direct link between individual performance and the firm’s profitability creates a culture of responsibility, where employees have a vested interest in maintaining efficiency and delivering returns.

In stark contrast, Bangladesh's public sector operates with a level of insulation from these market forces. Bureaucrats, administrators, and parliamentarians are salaried by the state, their pay derived from taxpayer contributions. Their compensation is not contingent upon performance, and whether they succeed or fail in their roles, their incomes remain largely unaffected. This lack of consequence breeds complacency and a disconnection from the broader economic realities of the country.

The private sector thrives on accountability precisely because the survival of the business depends on it. A poorly performing company risks losing capital, credibility, and ultimately, its existence. Yet in government, such pressures are nonexistent. As long as taxes are collected, the salaries of public officials are secured, regardless of whether government projects deliver any meaningful return on investment (ROI) for the state. This, in essence, is a form of systemic inefficiency, a condition bordering on corruption. It is not the blatant corruption of embezzled funds, but rather a more insidious variety: the kind that allows poor governance to continue unchecked.

A New Paradigm for Public Sector Accountability

To transform Bangladesh into a more resilient economy, it is time to recalibrate the public sector, embedding a performance-based framework similar to that seen in private enterprises. This would involve introducing measurable KPIs for government employees, bureaucrats, and even lawmakers, ensuring that their job security and compensation are linked to their performance and the tangible benefits their initiatives deliver.

There are lessons to be drawn from the private sector’s ability to use external funding as a catalyst for growth. Companies raise capital, take on debt, and invest with the explicit aim of generating returns. Failure to do so results in swift and often severe consequences. There is no reason why government initiatives cannot follow a similar model. Public projects, funded by taxes, should be seen as investments with an expectation of positive returns—whether in economic growth, social welfare, or infrastructure development. If a government project fails to meet these goals, the officials responsible should be held accountable, much like corporate executives are when their companies underperform.

Such a shift would bring greater discipline to public sector management, reducing the chronic inefficiency that hampers development. Government officials, knowing their job security and wages are contingent upon the success of the projects they oversee, would be incentivized to prioritize effective management, sound fiscal policies, and robust oversight of public funds. The result would be a more effective use of taxpayer money, driving tangible returns for the population rather than being siphoned off by an inert system.

The Politics of Accountability

This is not to suggest that government should be run like a business in all respects. Public sector goals often differ from those of the private sector. But in the case of accountability and efficiency, there are clear parallels. Governments, much like businesses, are custodians of resources—resources that, in the case of Bangladesh, come from its citizens through taxes. Ensuring that these resources are utilized responsibly is not merely a technical issue but a moral one. It is about ensuring that public officials, from the highest ranks of parliament to the most junior bureaucrats, are held to the same standards as those in the private sector.

Moreover, introducing accountability into the public sector would help address another issue: the trust deficit between the government and the people. In a country where tax collection is relatively low and public dissatisfaction with service delivery is high, citizens are right to ask where their money is going. By establishing a system where public officials are accountable for delivering measurable outcomes, the government could begin to rebuild trust and restore faith in public institutions.

Breaking the Cycle of Systemic Corruption

If Bangladesh is to rebuild itself into a more resilient and prosperous nation, it must confront the issue of systemic inefficiency in government. While much has been made of grand infrastructure projects and ambitious development plans, little has been said about the accountability mechanisms that will ensure these initiatives succeed. Without a fundamental shift in how public resources are managed and who is responsible for managing them, the country risks repeating the same mistakes.

Systemic corruption does not always take the form of bribes or theft. It can also manifest in the persistent failure to hold public officials accountable for mismanagement and inefficiency. This is a deeper, more pervasive issue—one that undermines the very fabric of governance. Until this is addressed, the rhetoric of "rebuilding Bangladesh" will remain just that: rhetoric.

Rebuilding Bangladesh requires more than just investment in physical infrastructure. It requires a reform of its public institutions, grounded in accountability, efficiency, and responsibility. Only then can the government ensure that the taxes collected from its citizens are used to deliver meaningful returns, fostering a more resilient, equitable, and prosperous nation for all.

In short, as Bangladesh embarks on the path to resilience, it is not the lack of resources that poses the greatest challenge. It is the lack of accountability. Without addressing this deficit, no amount of investment, no matter how well-intentioned, will be enough to secure the future of the country.

?