# Is Increasing the Number of Ministers a Good and Efficient Decision for Bangladesh? 

> Bangladesh’s expanded cabinet has sparked debate over whether more ministers can improve governance or simply increase administrative costs. While a larger cabinet may distribute responsibilities and strengthen oversigh…

Published: 2026-09-16 · Desk: Latest · Source: The Business Standard

The recent decision of the Bangladesh government to expand its cabinet has sparked an important debate on whether having more ministers actually make the government more effective or does it simply make the government larger? On August 21 2026, four new ministers and two state ministers were sworn in, marking the first cabinet reshuffle since the BNP led government came to power in February. The decision is constitutionally permissible. Article 56 of the Constitution allows the Prime Minister to determine the number of ministers, ministers of state and deputy ministers, subject to the constitutional requirements governing their appointment. However, the fact that something is legally permitted does not necessarily mean that it is administratively efficient. There is a reasonable argument in favour of increasing the number of ministers. Bangladesh is a large and increasingly complex country dealing simultaneously with economic pressures, energy concerns, employment, infrastructure, healthcare, education, foreign affairs and institutional reform. A larger cabinet could allow ministers to focus more closely on specific areas instead of placing too many responsibilities on a small number of individuals. The recent appointments included responsibilities in local government and information and broadcasting which potentially allows greater political and administrative attention to these sectors. If additional ministers are appointed because there is a genuine workload that existing ministers cannot manage effectively then expanding the cabinet can therefore improve oversight and speed up making more decisions. However, having more ministers does not automatically mean better governance. A larger cabinet can actually make things more complicated if the roles of different ministers overlap or if they struggle to coordinate with one another. The World Bank has highlighted that good governance depends on strong coordination between ministries and government agencies. When different institutions fail to work together, decisions can become confusing, responsibilities can overlap and important plans may not be properly implemented. Therefore, simply adding more ministers without clearly defining their roles could make the government more complicated rather than more efficient. This concern is particularly relevant for Bangladesh because the country already faces problems with institutional efficiency and accountability. The World Bank's recent work on Bangladesh's public sector identifies gaps in public financial management, procurement, revenue mobilisation and institutional capacity as constraints on efficiency. Its $250 million Strengthening Institutions for Transparency and Accountability project focuses on improving these systems through digitisation, stronger oversight and institutional reform. This suggests that Bangladesh's larger governance challenge is not necessarily a shortage of people at the top but whether existing institutions have the systems and accountability necessary to turn decisions into results. There is also a financial consideration. Every additional ministerial position brings administrative costs, including offices, staff, security, transportation and other government resources. At a time when Bangladesh is attempting to improve fiscal management, these expenses should have a clear justification. A larger cabinet may be worthwhile if the additional ministers produce measurable improvements in public services and policy implementation. If appointments are instead made primarily for political representation or internal party management, the public could reasonably question whether taxpayers are receiving sufficient value in return. The timing of the expansion also matters. Bangladesh is currently trying to strengthen public institutions after years of political and administrative controversy. The World Bank has emphasised that transparency, accountability and institutional effectiveness are essential for sustainable economic growth and public trust. In this environment any increase in the number of ministers should therefore come with clear explanations about why each position is necessary and what responsibilities it carries and how its performance will be evaluated. Ultimately, the question should not be whether Bangladesh has too many or too few ministers. The more important question is whether every minister has a clearly defined purpose and whether the expanded cabinet can deliver better results. A government should be judged not by the size of its cabinet but by the quality of its governance. If additional ministers reduce workloads, improve coordination and accelerate the implementation of policies then the decision could be justified. But if the expansion merely increases administrative costs and political appointments without improving public services then it risks becoming another example of a government becoming bigger without becoming better. Therefore, increasing the number of ministers can be a good decision but only if it is based on administrative necessity rather than political convenience. Bangladesh does not simply need more people in positions of authority; it needs ministers who can make decisions and institutions that can implement them and systems that can hold everyone accountable for the results.

Original reporting: https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/cabinet-reshuffle-moyeen-partho-saching-prue-millat-take-oath-ministers-1521296
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