Autonomous Bodies

Autonomous Bodies are set up in the public sector under legislative acts or ordinances (subject to legislative approval) to perform specific functions of various types. These bodies carry different organisational titles such as corporations, boards, institutes, authority, and so on. These can generally be classified into (i) commercial, (ii) promotional, (iii) research, (iv) training, and (v) regulation.

The primary distinction between a government department/directorate and an autonomous body lies in the fact that the latter enjoys a higher degree of autonomy in administrative and financial decision-making matters. The extent of autonomy that these autonomous bodies enjoy is in effect granted to them under the acts which provided for their creation. They are governed by their respective acts including the rules and regulations framed thereunder. However, the rules and regulations to be framed require the approval of the government.

The administration and management of the affairs of the autonomous bodies are vested in their respective board of directors or governing councils. These boards/councils may or may not have representation from outside the government or the autonomous bodies. The chief executives and the full-time directors of these autonomous bodies are appointed by the government. Below that level, these autonomous bodies are competent not only to recruit for themselves the required staff but also to promote them to higher positions. Their personnel management matters, including discipline, are governed by their own rules, and not by government rules and regulations which are applicable to government servants working in departments/directorates.

The chief executive of an autonomous body is designated either as the chairman, or managing director, or director general, or executive director, or in some cases as the executive chairman.

The fact remains that these bodies are accountable to the government for efficient performance of the tasks allotted to them, as well as for financial propriety in expenditure. The latter is enforced through yearly audits that come under the scrutiny of the Parliamentary standing committee on public accounts. The auditing of accounts of all organisations in the public sector is mandatory and is carried out by the office of the Comptroller And Auditor-General. In addition, some of these autonomous bodies have to get their accounts audited by duly appointed chartered accounting firms, if so required by law. Some of the autonomous bodies are Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Bangladesh Rural Development Board and Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation. [AMM Shawkat Ali]