The book comprises 19 chapters, six schedules and a bibliography. In the first chapter, the author has given a critical overview of Public Administration concept. He stresses herein the weight of Public Administration as: i) importance of Public Administration to the people; ii) necessity of Public Administration in modern welfare state; and iii) significance of Public Administration as an academic discipline. Doing so, he further notices that, Public Administration is not merely an administrative device, rather a system of enhancement and protection of public culture. The ideological foundation of a state may perhaps be better; however, its implication is largely executed by the administration too. Viewing this, he assumes that Public Administration is a living social process of achieving greater good. To him, it is an integral part of economic, social and cultural life of modern state. Thus, the author focuses a new approach of understanding Public Administration to us.

The book also contains an inventory to the study of Public Administration in the Universities of Bangladesh. It is designed primarily by following the syllabus of Public Administration for the Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Shahjalal and the Islamic University. It is also intended to meet the need of students of Political Science of different affiliated colleges of National University for their Public Administration courses. Considering the paucity of quality textbook on Public Administration the book has a separate value too.

Public Administration is closed to Political Science and Management as well. Moreover, it cannot ignore Sociology also. In theoretical part, the author attempts to conceptualise Public Administration lucidly. While discussing the origin and development of Public Administration he also shows a close link of other Social Sciences to it.

Policy Planning and Decision Making are the key concern to Public Administration. Giving due attention to above matters the book also illustrates some pertinent problems of Public Administration like, administrative authority and leadership, development planning for administration, bureaucracy, administrative law, administrative control and administrative responsibility. Discussion of Bangladesh's politico-constitutional background along with a brief note on Bangladesh Constitution is one of the attractive parts of the book. It includes matters related to 11 parts on Bangladesh Constitution and a table of constitutional amendments in detail. A table, featuring a detail of governmental systems since the creation of Bangladesh certainly improves quality of the book.

The book gives a detail account of administrative structure of Bangladesh, determined by the Rules of Business made under the authority of Article 55 (2) of Bangladesh Constitution. Thus, it designates the constitutional basis of Bangladesh public administration. The book discusses regional settings of Bangladesh public administration like, Divisional, District and Thana administration, and diverse existing structures of Local Self Government (LSG) as well.

Considering the distinct character of local governments of Chittagong Hill Tracts, a separate chapter has been designated in the book. The role of Ministry of CHT Affairs has been given an appropriate denotation too.

The appendices have incorporated important documents of GOB as well. It includes the functionaries of 23 Ministries. The book, in brief, has made efforts to delineate the organisation, functioning and revenue earnings of Union Parishads since its beginning in the British rule. UP is the single sort of LSG formed through people's direct representation. Thus, the appendices may be handy for the researchers indeed. For including all the major issues of Public Administration, the size of the book has also been increased.

The book, nonetheless, will provide a fresh look into the study of Bangladesh Public Administration. It goes far beyond the traditional approach to Public Administration dealing with issues like, appointment, training, transfer, salary, promotion, retirement and other issues concerned only to the government officials. It encompasses the constitution and laws enacted under it, the execution and the executors of these laws, public co-operation and participation, project planning to implementation and so on.

The book will be very useful not only for the students, but for the academicians, researchers and the public officials too.

In conclusion, we can propose for inclusion of an entire and up-to-date list of Bangladesh Ministries, a more professional bibliography and indexes of subjects and names.

Khandaker Muzahidul Haq Ph.D is Researcher, Institute of Bangladesh Studies, Rajshahi University.