Prime Minister Tarique Rahman carried out unannounced inspections at the ministries at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka on Sunday.
After arriving at the secretariat at 9:05am, the first working day of the week, the prime minister did not go directly to his office but instead walked from one building to another to observe the overall functioning of government offices.
The primary objective of the spot inspections was to ensure the timely presence of officials and employees and to verify the progress of official work on the ground.
Upon arrival, the prime minister briefly exchanged greetings with senior officials, including Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani. He then walked from building 1 to building 6.
At Building 6, he first visited the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, where he spoke with officials and staff and enquired about the progress of official work.
In the same building, he also observed the activities of the ministries and departments related to Fisheries and Livestock, Women and Children Affairs, Social Welfare, and Education.
The prime minister later went to building 5 to inspect the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.
He then proceeded to building 3, where he reviewed the activities of the Ministry of Commerce and other related departments.
He also enquired about the functioning of the ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Environment and Forest, and Water Resources.
During the inspection, the prime minister entered various rooms to verify the presence of officials and employees and spoke with them directly.
He enquired about the progress of official work and gave necessary instructions to improve the quality of services.
At the time, he placed particular emphasis on ensuring discipline, punctuality, and accountability in government work.
Addressing officials, the prime minister instructed them to prevent wastage and adopt a cost-efficient approach.
He specifically urged greater awareness in electricity use, advising that unnecessary lights be switched off, air conditioner use be limited, and natural light be utilised. He also stressed the proper maintenance of office furniture and other government assets.
At the time, the prime minister said, “To love the country, one must carry it in the heart. Government property means the property of the country. It must be preserved by everyone with a sense of responsibility.”
After the inspection, which lasted for nearly an hour, he returned to his office at the Cabinet Division around 10am. He later attended a pre-scheduled meeting there on the “Farmers Card”.
The prime minister’s surprise inspection is an important step towards restoring momentum in administrative activities and ensuring discipline.
Earlier, in a bid to make administrative activities more dynamic, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman decided to keep offices open even on the weekly holiday, Saturday.
The decision was announced following an inter-ministerial meeting held on 19 February after he assumed office.
Since then, he has also been attending office regularly on Saturdays.
He has been arriving at the Bangladesh Secretariat, the Prime Minister’s Office, and various departments by 9am, which is being regarded as an example for officials and employees.
It is noted that during the tenure of the previous Awami League government, there were various allegations of government officials and employees failing to attend office on time.
As a result, service recipients often had to face considerable difficulties. In this context, the current government has taken a firm stance to increase accountability in the workplace and improve the quality of public services.
As part of this effort, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued an office order on 23 February.
It directed officials and employees of the Law and Justice Division to be present at their respective offices by 9am on working days.
Strict instructions were also given to ensure that no one leaves the office before the end of official hours. Overall, those concerned view these initiatives by the prime minister as a continued effort to ensure discipline, punctuality and accountability in the administration.
