A recent study has recommended enacting laws to protect government officials from political interference, train them on moral standards and maintaining political neutrality and increase public engagement with government officials.

The study revealed the existence of a deep bureaucratic political nexus, which significantly undermines the impartiality, effectiveness and trust on government services.

The Centre on Budget and Policy at the University of Dhaka with support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) conducted the perception study titled "SHAPING BANGLADESH'S FUTURE: Student's Perspective on Governance and Reform Priorities" aiming to integrate student insights into the reform agenda.

This study, which was unveiled in March this year, employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative data.

The quantitative component consisted of a survey conducted with 2,040 students from 10 institutions, including public and private universities, national university-affiliated colleges, and madrasahs.

The main objectives of the study were to gather student perspectives on state reform agendas and provide actionable insights for reform to policymakers and reform commissions, ensuring that student-driven priorities are integrated into the national reform agenda.

During the study, respondents shared their perspectives on the current state of administrative functionality, including how well the system operates and how accessible it is to citizens.

It showed that marginalised communities (ethnic minorities, impoverished groups, and women) face discriminatory attitudes and practices.

The respondents identified lack of awareness about citizen rights and information as a key factor contributing to their limited access to services. Existing social accountability tools (citizens' charter, public hearings) are seen as inefficient and ineffective.

The respondents highlighted significant concerns about political interference in government official duties: 43% reported that government officials are not free from political interference, while 48% reported that officials are only partially independent.

The study proposed establishing hotlines and suggestion/complaint boxes for citizen feedback to improve government accessibility and responsiveness and increasing public awareness about citizens' rights and available government services for fair and equitable access.

It suggested arranging regular public hearings in government offices to enhance citizen engagement and increasing citizen participation in policymaking processes through public consultations and participatory budgeting.

The study also recommended exploring digital platform-based solutions alongside improving digital literacy especially among marginalised communities.

It also suggested ensuring performance-based promotion of government officials to motivate them to perform their jobs more effectively.

On 5 August 2024, Bangladesh experienced a major political shift with the removal of the sitting government following demands by the student-led 'Anti-Discrimination Student Movement'- a mass uprising between July and August 2024 against injustices.

An interim government was established in the immediate aftermath which has since prioritised reforms in key areas, including the Election Commission, judiciary, public administration, security forces, and anti-corruption.

To support this reform process, 11 commissions were established including six commissions focusing on electoral management, anti-corruption, judiciary, public administration, police administration, and constitutional reforms.

As the driving force behind Bangladesh's critical turning point, students remain central to the discourse on reform; understanding their priorities is a key to shaping a new governance framework for the country that reflects the aspirations of its youth.

In this context, the Centre on Budget and Policy with support from UNDP conducted the study to integrate student insights into the reform agenda.

The study focuses on student perspectives on the following reform areas: public security and police; public administration; judiciary system; reform of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC); electoral system; freedom of expression; higher education and employment opportunities.