Staff Reporter :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked the top bureaucrats to stop corruption in any form.
She came up with this instruction in a meeting with Secretaries of different Ministries and divisions at Bangladesh Secretariat.
‘I’m urging all of you to work. I want work and work with honesty. Stop corruption. No corruption can take place anywhere in the country in any form,” quoting the Prime Minister, meeting sources said.
“Salaries of government employees and officials have been increased during our tenure. So I’m urging all of you to stop corruption,” she was quoted as saying.
Making her government’s stand clear against corruption, Sheikh Hasina said a zero-tolerance policy has already been adopted against corruption in the all sectors and none would be spared for such an offence.
She said the government launched a web-based application system in a bid to dispose the citizens’ complaints.
“The Anti-Corruption Act- 2004 has been amended in principle to remove the weaknesses of the law and strengthen the ACC to combat corruption,” she said.
The Prime Minister said, “Skilled and qualified officials will have to take the important responsibilities. I’m calling upon you to ensure reward for good works. Of course, those who will be involved in offences, will also have to pay for the misdeed in order to establish good governance in the country.”
She also ordered the civil servants to take an effective initiative so that people would be able to get service from the different service oriented organisations.
She also expressed her dismay over frequent absence of top bureaucrats in crucial parliamentary sittings and asked them to undergo a training course to learn about the Constitution and parliamentary rules of procedure and practices.
“I have noticed that concerned Secretaries remain absent from the Parliament at the time of question-answer sessions of the Prime Minister and other Ministers in the Parliament,” she said.
The premier said the Secretaries concerned with the presence in Parliament could help Ministers with necessary information to reply the questions by lawmakers.
Sheikh Hasina said she found concerned Secretaries absent even during passage of bills related to their Ministries when their presence was crucially important.
Sheikh Hasina said only three or four Secretaries were present in the Parliament when this year’s budget was passed while many of the top bureaucrats did not witness the day’s lively discussions on budget, no Secretary except three or four was present in the Parliament, she said.
Presence of Secretaries is also important at the time of passage of a bill as they prepare the document, the Prime Minister said.
“Every country follows the practice,” the Prime Minister said sharing her experience from question-answer session in the House of Commons.
Secretaries have to learn about the Constitution, Parliament practice, rules of procedure, she said, asking the cabinet secretary to arrange a basic training course for them so that such situation doesn’t arise in future.
During the meeting the Prime Minister gave 11 more directives to the Secretaries for ensuring the overall development of the country.
Sheikh Hasina also instructed the Secretaries to formulate strategies for implementing Annual Development Programmes (ADPs) from the very beginning of the fiscal year by completing necessary paper works of the projects during monsoon and immediately hold inter-ministerial coordination meetings, if necessary.
She also asked bureaucrats to undertake area-wise annual development programmes considering local needs and implement the projects faster so that the highest number of people could be benefited.
“I’m requesting you to take necessary steps for rural development. Besides, you will have to create jobs, reduce the gap between the rich and the poor and ensure equal distribution of resources from the very beginning of the fiscal year,” she was quoted.
She also asked the Secretaries to be more sincere in accomplishing the development works under Fast Track Projects within the stipulated time.
