How top civil servants perceive their roles: a case study in Bangladesh

How top civil servants perceive their role has been widely studied in developed countries, yet this topic remains largely unexplored in developing countries. This study aims to explore how top civil servants in Bangladesh perceive their roles, through twenty extensive interviews with current and former top civil servants at the secretary and senior secretary level. Using the framework of administrative responsibilities developed by Denhardt and deLeon, the interview revealed a dominant ‘traditional bureaucrat’ role perception. This perception emphasizes traditional bureaucratic values, including strict adherence to rules, political neutrality, and a clear distinction between the roles of politicians and top civil servants. Only a few top civil servants recognized the importance of policy advocacy in their role to safeguard citizen interests. Just a quarter of respondents supported policy or procedural changes for improved public services. Instead, most prioritized adherence to rules and established procedures to minimize uncertainties and comply with political decisions. However, self-perception and representation appear to stand in contrast to observed departures from standard bureaucratic rules and bureaucratic neutrality.