Bangladesh Replaces Mussoorie With Lahore for Civil Service Training Amid Shifting Ties

Bangladesh has reportedly shifted the training destination for its civil servants from India’s hill town of Mussoorie to Lahore in Pakistan, reflecting changing regional dynamics, diplomatic tensions, and administrative arrangements between neighboring countries.

For several years, Mussoorie — home to the prestigious Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration — served as a training center for Bangladeshi civil servants and symbolized close and stable ties between India and Bangladesh. However, due to strained bilateral relations, expired agreements, and visa-related challenges, Dhaka has now opted for Lahore as an alternative destination.

Currently, 12 Bangladeshi bureaucrats, including one additional secretary and 11 joint secretaries, are undergoing training at the Civil Services Academy in Lahore from May 4 to May 21. Officials said this marks the first structured program of its kind between Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The development comes amid improving ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan following the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from office. Since then, cooperation between the two countries has reportedly expanded across several sectors.

According to officials from Bangladesh’s public administration ministry, the entire cost of the Lahore training program is being borne by the Pakistani government, with no financial contribution from Dhaka. Upon returning home, participating officers will be required to submit a detailed report on the training experience.

Despite the latest shift, many in Dhaka believe the situation could remain flexible, as Bangladeshi officials may continue attending training programs in both India and Pakistan. This comes as Dhaka and New Delhi are also working to improve strained diplomatic relations.

Until 2024, Bangladeshi officials regularly attended training at Mussoorie under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bangladesh’s Ministry of Public Administration and India’s National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG). The initiative began in 2014 during Hasina’s tenure, with additional agreements signed in 2019 and 2024.

According to the NCGG, over 1,019 Bangladeshi civil servants received field administration training between 2019 and 2024, while the total number of trained Bangladeshi officials is estimated to be around 2,500.

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