Government Yet to Fix Conflict: A Scenario of Relationship between SP & DC in Field Administration.

by Muhmmad Shahjahan Sazid

Introduction

‘Everyone is for coordination, but no one wishes to be coordinated,

At least not just now’. Jon Bennett (2000)

In Field Administration Deputy Commissioner ( DC ) and the Superintendent of Police ( SP ), the psychological conflict has aggravated now. The conflict has turned into an open somewhere. In spite of having clear rules of business in district administration, but in many cases the guidelines are not being followed. Who is more powerful than the DC-SP now faced competition. The head of the district administration as well as the British-era mentality desire not yet out. Due to the distance between Deputy Commissioner (DC) and the Superintendent of Police (SP), there may arise malfunction in field administration.

 If the situation continues, all the courses of administration are expected to collapse. The government is yet to decide on what actions it would take to put an end to a long-standing conflict between the civil administration and the police department which has been hindering coordination in various state activities for the last a couple of years .Civil servants have long been stating that police officials generally ignore directives or requests of the administration and repeatedly violate the rules of business by calling coordination meetings on various issues on their own.

Statement of the problem

In 22 June, 2014 Jamalpur Deputy Commissioner (DC) made a complaint with the cabinet division against the district's Superintendent of Police (SP) for violating rules of business by calling a coordination meeting on law and order  at his office. As per the rules of business, only deputy commissioners are authorized to call such meetings as head of the district administration.

However, SP called a coordination meeting without informing the DC. Later, the deputy commissioner called another meeting on June 26 and invited the SP to join the discussions. But the meeting did not find the presence of the police superintendent or any other representative from the police department. (The daily Somoy Sangbad and The daily Dhaka Tribune)

Objective of the study

The objective of this assignment is to find-out the relationship between SP and DC as well as to analyze about the real scenario of field administration in Bangladesh.
The purpose of carrying out this assignment is the following:

ü  To know about the ‘rules of business’ of administration and its practicability in field administration.

ü  To discuss detailed and clear picture of the roles played by civil servants in the     development of field administration in Bangladesh.

ü   To expose factors, those affect and determine the role of the govt. officials to ensure a sound and sustainable development of field administration.

Study questions

In order to explore information in this study the following study questions are addressed.

1.      What are the factors behind the conflict between DC and SP?

2.      How does good relationship between DC and SP contribute to field administration?

3.      How does paradoxical correlation make complexity in field administration?

Scope of the study

In Bangladesh there are 64 districts; DC and SP are the both chief administrative officials.  Interrelationship is developed on the necessity of having dependency on each other to get things done. The success of the administration depends on their good relationship. To do so, one of the incidents which are occurred in Jamalpur district, as an area of the study, is selected. So, scope of this study will focus on the relationship between DC and SP in field administration.

Limitation of the study

As a student of M.S.S- 2^nd semester of the Department of Public Administration, I had to conduct this research in very short time. In briefly, I had to face following limitations during conducting this study.

1.      Limited study area.

2.      Words limitation (Page limitation)

3.      Time constraints

4.      cooperative constraints

5.      Insufficient source of secondary data.

6.      Incapable to primary data collection, due to academic tight schedule.

Significance of the study

The significance of the study is therefore based on;

v  Providing advises to the government and concerned authority on how to adjust or improve the administrative policy regulations.

v  Identifying and analyzing advises to on how ‘rules of business’ to apply the field administration regarding real situation in Bangladesh.

v  It is also hoped that the findings of this assignment would give knowledge of              identifying ways to improve in terms of administrative reform both field and central administration in Bangladesh.

v  It would help unconscious people to know administrative practices available which are unknown to them.

Literature review

Who is the DC?

The deputy commissioner (popularly abbreviated to "DC") is the executive head of the district, an administrative sub-unit of a divisions. Deputy Commissioner is appointed by the government from a Deputy Secretary of B.C.S. Administration Cadre. (Wikipedia)

Who is the SP?

The superintendent of the police (popularly known to ‘’SP’’) of Bangladesh Police is the key person in maintaining law and order. He or She is administered under the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh. He or She plays a crucial role in maintaining peace, and enforcement of law and order within Bangladesh. (Wikipedia).

What is the relationship?

Relationship is the way in which two or more people or organizations regard and behave toward each other.

What is the field administration?

Field Administration spread over different administrative units, these are the division, the district and the and finally, the union which is basically a local government unit consisting of a group of villages. The district is perhaps the oldest administrative unit. Its emergence as a unit of administration is closely associated with the land system of Bengal. (Banglapedia)

Methodology of the study:

This is a qualitative study combining documents analysis and fact findings on rules of businesses of civil servants in field administration in Bangladesh.

Sources of data collection

 There basically the following source of data collection is;

Secondary sources:

Secondary sources of information included review of research reports, relevant published documents including books, project documents, class lecture notes and website etc.

Legal framework

Here, I have chosen two theoretical frameworks to make my study more relevant and specific. It is an endeavor to stand my study on a legal basis.

Two Factor theories

Herzberg's Two Factor Theory is a "content theory" of motivation". Herzberg analysed the job attitudes of 200 accountants and engineers who were asked to recall when they had felt positive or negative at work and the reasons why.

From this research, Herzberg suggested a two-step approach.

Hygiene Factor:

The hygiene factors are those factors which prevents dissatisfaction of people.

Example: Security, status and self respect etc.

Motivating Factor:

The motivating factors are those factors which motivate people. Example: Enforcement of law, attractive to responsibility and discipline etc.

Relevance to the study:

 This theory is relevant to the study. If the civil servants don’t get proper and necessary work environment, safety and elements then those can cause dissatisfaction among civil servants and they become de-motivated to follow the rules of business.

Theory ‘X’ and Theory ‘Y’

Douglas Mcgregor in his book, ‘The Human Side of Enterprise’ published in 1960, has examined theories on behavior of individuals at work, and he has formulated two models which he calls Theory X and Theory Y.

Theory X Assumption

• The average person dislikes work and will avoid it he/she can.
• Most people must be forced with the threat of punishment to work towards objectives.
• The average person prefers to be directed; to avoid responsibility; is relatively not ambitious, and wants security above all else.

Relation to the Study

The civil servant is not willing to be disrespected by others. In this case stick steps are needed to be taken against these sorts of people to get effective administration. For this theory X can be applied here.

Theory Y Assumptions

• Effort in work is as natural as work and play.
• People will apply self-control and self-direction.
• Commitment to objectives is a function of rewards associated with their achievement.
• People usually accept and often seek responsibility.

Relation to the study

 Maximum civil servants are conscious and agree to maintain a good functional relationship among them but as the administrative environment is not suitable enough and they can’t follow that. So if government takes some initiatives to fix the conflict then civil servant will do it. Here theory Y is applicable.

Findings of the study

This section presents the outcome of my analysis. Here, the analysis makes sense of basic knowledge of field administration Followed-on my study. Then chronologically it reflects the whole information, supporting concentration, has come from my documents and facts analysis.

Factors behind awkward interrelation

Lethargy toward the rules

Apart from the lack of rules, there is a tendency among some of the officials not to follow rules.

As a result, problems arise in the accomplishment of functions since their lethargy toward the rules causes lack of coherence of functions, leading to poor interrelation.

Lack of cooperation

Ensuring coordination depends largely on how cordially and timely officers involved cooperate

With each other when involvement of multiple sectors in policy implementation is the concern.

Political nexus in relationship

There is also an unprecedented level of politicization of administration. While this phenomenon is common in almost all districts, it has taken an ugly turn in Bangladesh and its ramifications are detrimental to the basics of administration. With this pattern of politicization, it is an impossible task to reform the sound and effective public administration system. (Anisuzzaman, Muhammad:  2012 page-13-17).

Skeptical affinity between SP-DC

Although the conflict existed as an open secret following the separation, several incidents of clashes and conflicts between the two departments in recent times had brought the issue out in the open. Experts fear the collapse of the chain of command of the Field Administration.

Relationship looks like paradoxical

It seems that there has a correlation in field administration. But when conducting this study I have found a lot of incidents which directly or indirectly indicates there have a distance among those officials.

Positive aspects of a good relationship

Ensuring transparency and accountability

As district administration is the root of central administration, so it makes linkage between them. Whenever this linkage would be strong then transparency and accountability would be ensured.

Forward to E-governance:

It is now age of the globalization where the concept of ‘global village’ was introduced. It time to move to e-governance system from central to field administration. A good correlation could make it much more forward. (Chowdhury and Taifur, 2003: 5).

Administrative Reform accelerates effectiveness:

To meet the difficulty of a changing society, government tried to reform the administrative system. Successive governments appointed as many as fifteen administrative form commissions and committees. The implementation of those totally depends on the good willingness of civil servants.

 Enhance competency of administration

Administrative reforms need concerted efforts on the part of the government in power. Unless it can demonstrate its capacity, its reform agenda is bound to fail to deliver the desired results. That’s why a good collaboration is urgent in field administration between SP and DC.

Successful civic administration:

In most developing countries, including Bangladesh, solid institutional frameworks, rule of law, proper control structures, checks and balances, the civil service system, and accountability systems are all absent or ineffective. For this reason, there is no doubt that, to establish a successful civic administration interrelation is must. (Anisuzzaman, Muhammad: 2012 page-21-22)

 Elimination of practicing of corruption:

Corruption is an old phenomenon In fact; it is difficult to find any sector of the government without corrupt practices. So, joint activities could give corruption free society.

Good governance:

Corruption everywhere may be largely responsible for the lack of “good enough governance” in Bangladesh. It is the time to eradicate corruption and ensure good governance in every sector in field administration. Without a sound administration it is impossible to make sure good governance.

Negative aspects a paradoxical relationship

 Bureaucratic resistance:

There is a common perception that civil servants all over the world are more or less apathetic to the needs of the people and that they are even unwilling to listen to them. The situation is no different in Bangladesh; indeed, it may be even worse because an inadequate correlation between SP and DC.

 Political challenges and interference:

 Political interference is a driving force behind implementation of administrative activities. Sometimes it creates a dilemma, in performing regular duties of officials. Meanwhile, lack of coordination between SP and DC, it creates much more problems.

Discontent of Service recipients’:

The evaluation of citizen-oriented services depends both on the role and performance of the service providers—the public servants—and also on the satisfaction of service recipients—the citizens.

Gapamong the offices:

Interaction among departments is considered important because information is exchanged when interaction takes place; consequently, such an exchange leads to coordination. However, since there is lack of proper linkages among DC office and SP office the required information is not transmitted. As such, problems of coordination occur among them.

Recommendations

Administrative officials play a vital role in our society as well as in our national life. In Many cases, officials are facing severely hesitation in field administration. In order to lessen this distance and minimizing gap between DC and SP the following initiative could be taken-

1.      Holding jointly seminar, conference on regular activities.

2.      Raising consciousness among mass people about field administration.

3.      Ensuring justice and good governance from field to central administration.

4.      Encouraging private sectors and NGOs to come forward to provide services to citizens so that field administration could get rid of overloading of the service delivery.

5.      Provision of sufficient fund from the national budget for local sectors.

6.      Addressing policy’s gap in order to achieve policy goals in field administration.

7.      Co-ordination among Inter sectors relating to administrative issues.

8.      Co-ordination between central and regional administration to achieve the administrative objectives and goals.

9.      Public awareness building camping and community involvement in every sector of field administration.

Conclusion and implications for further study

                It may conclude that due to increase of politicizing of administration local community as well as citizen of the country is worried. Moreover, bad relation between two highest officials (DC and SP) in field administration makes more complexity. Many developing countries even developed one is anxious of politicizing of administration. Malfunctioning of our administration is leading our country toward an unsure circumstance. For this reason civil societies and experts around the country are talking about administration and workings out path for recover from this unsure circumstance.

Field administration is not beyond from this fact. Both central and field administration should try to cope up with each other as well as good relation between DC and SP. Government should formulate rational policies in order to fix psychological disputes between highest officials. Last but not least, I could say, this research is like a précis. So, if you want further research on this field more deeply, I hope it might help you.