Bangladesh Administrative Service

The Bangladesh Administrative Service (BAS) is the premier civil service cadre of the Bangladesh Civil Service, and which formulates and executes policies for the government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh of which it is an inseparable part.

BAS officers hold all senior and middle-ranking administrative posts, such as the permanent heads (non-political) of government ministries, as well as divisions and departments within ministries, in the central secretariat headquartered in Dhaka.

Additionally, in the field administration (outside central government ministries), the senior administrative posts in the eight Divisions and their sub-levels are also held by officers of the BAS.

The Cabinet Secretary of Bangladesh is the senior post in the BAS, as the chief officer in the Cabinet Division, and is by virtue regarded as the most senior civil servant in Bangladesh.

Organogram

Central Administration (based primarily in the Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka)

• Cabinet Secretary of Bangladesh (Head of the Cabinet Division, and Head of the Bangladesh Civil Service)
  • Principal Secretary (this grade is for the Head of the Prime Minister's Office, and equivalent in stature to the Cabinet Secretary)
  • Senior Secretary (awarded to secretaries in the most important ministries and departments, as well as for long and distinguished service to the government)
• Secretary (usually the head of a ministry, or in some cases Divisions within important ministries)
• Additional Secretary
• Joint Secretary
• Deputy Secretary (also the usual rank of a Private Secretary (PS) to a Minister; or Secretary in a Ministry and/or Division)
• Senior Assistant Secretary
• Assistant Secretary

Field Administration

• Divisional Commissioner
• Additional Divisional Commissioner
• Deputy Commissioner
• Additional Deputy Commissioner (Senior Assistant Secretary, senior scale)
• Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) (Senior Assistant Secretary, junior scale)
• Senior Assistant Commissioner (NDC/RDC/LAO)
• Assistant Commissioner (Land)
• Assistant Commissioner (Probation)

Recruitment

All BAS officers are recruited at a single entry-level by the Bangladesh Public Service Commission, having undertaken and scored highest in what is widely regarded as the most competitive examination in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Civil Service examination. These candidates are then commissioned into the Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration) cadre.

The first post of all new officers is as Assistant Commissioner in the field administration initially, and then the most promising officers are transferred to the central administration as Assistant Secretary, or currently more usually promoted and commence in rank as a Senior Assistant Secretary in a ministry.

Functions

Field Administration

In field administration, a member of Bangladesh Administrative Service plays two different roles from the beginning of their career: Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate. They execute the power of executive magistracy to the extent specified by the government. As per Section 10 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, a Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Senior Assistant Commissioner (also UNO) and Assistant Commissioner (also of Land) are Executive Magistrates in field administration. Additionally, as per sub section 10(5), if requires, the government can empower any member of Bangladesh Administrative Service as Executive Magistrate by means of deputation e.g. Executive Magistrate in organizations like Bangladesh Road and Transport Authority (BRTA), City Corporations, Ports, Airports etc.

Bangladesh Civil Service Administration Academy

Bangladesh Civil Service Administration Academy (BCSAA) is the initial training institute for all new BCS (Administration) Cadre officers.

Administrative Service Association

The Bangladesh Administrative Service Association (BASA) is a platform for all the members of the service. The Association headquarters is located in Eskaton, Dhaka.

Helaluddin Ahmed, the Secretary of Bangladesh Election Commission, is the current President and Shaikh Yusuf Harun, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration, is the Secretary-General of the Association. Generally BASA arrange an annual get-together each year where honorable Prime Minister appears as the chief guest.