PM expresses anger at public officials over a couple of issues

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has expressed his anger at government officials over drawing meeting allowances and importing furniture from abroad.

He voiced his displeasure at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting on Wednesday (September 16).

Addressing the officials at the meeting, the prime minister said, “Do you know how many meetings I attend every day? I do not take any allowances. Then why should you take allowances?”

Instructing officials to attend such meetings as part of their duties, he said, “This is your responsibility.”

At the meeting, the prime minister also said, “Officials travel abroad under the pretext of pre-shipment inspections of project materials. These foreign trips must be stopped.”

He also expressed his displeasure over the import of luxury furniture from abroad for various government offices.

Later, the PM formed a committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary to determine the allowances for attending meetings.

Earlier on Wednesday morning (September 16), an ECNEC meeting began at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of PM Tarique Rahman.

The meeting approved 12 projects worth Tk 1 lakh 68 thousand 780 crore. Of the approved projects, seven were new and five were revised. Six projects were sent back for further review.

According to meeting sources, the government’s own funding would amount to Tk 48,256 crore 30 lakh, while project loans would account for Tk 1 lakh 20 thousand 466 crore 39 lakh of the total expenditure.

Those present at the meeting included Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Local Government Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam, Water Resources Minister Md Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, and Law Minister Asaduzzaman.