The dominant role of bureaucracy in governance in Bangladesh is well-known. Bangladesh has been and continues to be an administrative state. The need for reforming bureaucracy was recognized  even during the Pakistan times. However, all efforts to reform an entrenched bureaucracy failed to a large extent.

The book describes and analyzes why major administrative reforms failed in Bangladesh; what lessons can be learned from such failure; and how major reforms can be effectuated within the civil service system of the country. Major administrative reform failures of South Asian bureaucracies have also been examined to provide a regional context of Bangladesh as the case in hand.

The experiences of commonwealth countries bureaucracies in the areas of change and reforms have also been examined to show how such experiences can enable bureaucracy in Bangladesh to bring about and sustain meaningful changes to meet the challenges of the 21th century.

Table of Contents:

Globalisation of Administrative Reforms / Major Administrative Reform Initiatives in Bangladesh / Administrative Reform Initatives of Governments in Bangladesh (2007-2011) / Major Administrative Reforms and Role of International Donors in Bangladesh / Resistance to Major Administrative Reforms in South Asian Civil Services / Coping with the Challenges of 21st Century: Experiences of Commonwealth Countries and Prescriptions for Bangladesh