Speakers at a conference e on Wednesday observed that common people are subjected to harassment while receiving any service due to lack of inclusive policy, monitoring, transparency and accountability in public services.
Investment in the public services has been reducing day by day in Bangladesh, they commented.
Besides, the centralised budget preparation and implementation do not reflect the actual need of people.
The two-day conference on 'Inclusive and Gender Responsive Public Services: Reality, Challenges and Opportunities' was jointly organised by Brac Institute of Governance and Development, ActionAid Bangladesh, Urban Forum, CARE Bangladesh and Christian Aid Bangladesh.
Actionaid Bangladesh manager Nuzhat Zabeen described the state of public services in Bangladesh.
Investment in public services, especially in health, communication and urban services, has been declining, he said. For the health sector, the budget was 4.71 per cent in the fiscal year 2016-17 while it was 6.02 per cent in the fiscal year 2009-10.
Weak management of the government in public transport sector has been increasing the cost making the services difficult.
Moreover, increase in the living cost and privatisation of public services are forcing the people to spend more, the concept paper of the conference said.
According to International Budget Partnership Open Budget Survey 2017, Bangladesh scored only 13 out of 100 in inclusiveness indicator, and 41 in transparency which means Bangladesh is still weak in information flow.
ActionAid country director Farah Kabir said the government is elected for serving people and it is the duty of them to ensure equal service for all citizens.
Urban Forum adviser Mostafa Qaiyum said contribution of the disadvantaged people is more in development but they do not have any place in development planning and implementation process.
The speakers said service sectors like health and transport are not gender sensitive.
A recent study of ActionAid Bangladesh on 'Safe Cities for Women found that 42 per cent women face rude behaviour in hospitals while 84 per cent women think the communication system and services are unsafe.
Women become victims of sexual harassment while receiving services on the one hand while their opportunities for safe livelihood and life are decreasing on the other hand.
Lawmaker Fazle Hossain Badsha said women of the country are harassed both socially and politically. Their political empowerment is necessary to improve their condition in public services sector.
CARE Bangladesh country director Zia Chowdhury said despite rise in per capita income, and development, the grassroots people do not get quality services as the service centres are not pro-people.
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