Attempts under way to politicise the PSC, Chhatra Shibir warns of resistance on the streets

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has levelled allegations of attempts at politicisation against the government over the resignations of the chairman of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) and of one member after another. The organisation has warned that if any partisan person is appointed to the PSC without the necessary reforms, it will not be accepted; if the institution is used for political interests, students and the public will once again build resistance on the streets.

Chhatra Shibir central president Nurul Islam and secretary general Sibgatullah said these things in a joint statement on Sunday (18 October).

The statement expressed deep concern over the sudden resignations of the PSC chairman and members. The leaders said that in its 54-year history, this important constitutional institution of the state has repeatedly been used as a political tool, as a result of which the merit-based recruitment system has been harmed.

According to Chhatra Shibir, one of the main spirits of the historic July uprising of students and the public was building a merit-based Bangladesh and radical reform of state institutions. But the statement alleged that instead of taking initiatives to build the PSC into an independent, impartial and dynamic institution in light of the July Charter, attempts are again under way there to spread partisan and political influence.

The statement further said that the PSC chairman and one member after another are being tactfully removed before their terms are complete. The Chhatra Shibir leaders commented that such steps cannot be accepted in any way.

A broader allegation was also raised in the statement against the government of spreading partisan influence in various state institutions. It was said that although there is talk of state reform, after coming to power attempts are under way to spread partisan influence in important institutions to consolidate their own position. Incidents such as appointments ignoring merit and seniority to top posts in the higher judiciary, university administrations and field administration, question leaks, the weeding out of the meritorious in the name of verification and appointments on partisan considerations were mentioned in the statement as expressions of that very tendency.

The Chhatra Shibir leaders said questions have arisen as to whether a plan is under way to bring independent and statutory institutions under control in order to consolidate power. They believe it needs to be examined whether the successive changes in the PSC's top leadership are also part of that plan. Their claim is that attempts to politicise state institutions conflict with the aspirations of the July uprising and the pledge of state reform.

A specific allegation was also raised in the statement. The Chhatra Shibir leaders said they have learned that a minister summoned the PSC members and hinted that they should work according to the wishes of the political government. However, the name of that minister was not mentioned in the statement.

Speaking in strong language in this regard, the Chhatra Shibir leaders said no constitutional institution is any minister's family business. No one has the right to turn the PSC into a tool for fulfilling the wishes of a political government.

Issuing the warning, they said that if any partisan person is appointed to the PSC without the necessary reforms, it will not be accepted. If attempts are made to use the institution for political interests, students and the public will once again build fierce resistance on the streets.

In the final part of the statement, a call was made to build the PSC into an independent, impartial and dynamic institution, keeping it above all kinds of political narrowness. To that end, the Chhatra Shibir leaders made a strong demand to all concerned for the reconstruction and reform of the PSC comprising honest, efficient and qualified persons in light of the July Charter.

Discussion was already going on over the recent changes in the PSC's top posts. After this statement by Chhatra Shibir, there are signs that the political debate over the institution's future leadership and reform process will grow stronger.