Administrative and Services Reorganisation Committee

Administrative and Services Reorganisation Committee an administrative reform body constituted by the government of Bangladesh on 15 March 1972. This committee, popularly known by its acronym, ASRC, was especially entrusted with the task of suggesting appropriate measures for the government to determine policy regarding the future structure of administration and the system of civil service. ASRC was headed by Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Choudhury, the then Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University. It consisted of three other members: Professor Anisur Rahman, a member of the Planning Commission; Mahbubuzzaman, secretary of Establishment Division; and Barrister Amirul Islam (member of Jatiya Sangsad), a political representative nominated by the Prime Minister.

The terms of reference of the ASRC were: (a) to consider the present structure of various services, both technical and non-technical, and determine the future structure keeping in view the functional needs and requirements of the government; (b) to consider the question of amalgamation of all existing civil services (other than defence service) into one unified service; (c) to determine the principles of integration of the personnel of various services in the new structure, and to determine inter se seniority of personnel of different services having similar academic background and job experiences in the process of amalgamation and/or restructuring; (d) to determine the future recruitment policy in the government services at various levels keeping in view educational and other job requirements; and (e) to prepare and recommend a comprehensive scheme for administrative reorganisation.

The ASRC submitted its report in two parts, one in April and the other in October 1973. The first part of the report contained proposals for the reorganisation of the services. This reorganisation had to be taken up in order to assist the National Pay Commission of 1972 in determining new pay scales. The second part of the report contained recommendations regarding the reorganisation of the secretariat system and procedure of work, ministerial and departmental organisation, and district and local government administration. [AMM Shawkat Ali]