TDS Desk:

Despite repeated instructions, advisers and secretaries continue to flout the rules on foreign travel, sources at the Chief Adviser’s Office said.

The chief adviser has expressed strong displeasure over the matter.

The Chief Adviser’s Office has issued a reminder for the third time urging advisers and secretaries to strictly comply with the rules governing foreign travel.

They have also been advised to avoid unnecessary foreign trips ahead of the upcoming national election.

A circular signed by M Saifullah Panna, secretary at the Chief Adviser’s Office, was issued on Tuesday and sent to the cabinet secretary, all senior secretaries, secretaries, and heads of departments and agencies.

The circular stated “Instances have been noticed where foreign travel is being undertaken without following the prescribed instructions. Advisers and secretaries of the same ministry are going abroad together. In some cases, multiple officials from the same ministry are travelling abroad at the same time.”

“Such proposals are frequently being sent to this office (Chief Adviser’s Office), which go against previously issued instructions,” the statement said.

The circular instructed that all previously issued directives regarding foreign travel must be followed strictly, and that until the national election, foreign trips should be avoided unless absolutely essential for national interest.

After the interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus took office last year August, the Chief Adviser’s Office issued a 13-point directive on December 24 last year to restrict foreign travel. It said advisers and secretaries of the same ministry/division should not travel abroad together unless it is of significant national importance.

However, the directive was not followed, which prompted the Chief Adviser’s Office to issue a reminder on March 25 this year, urging all government officials to comply with the December 24 guidelines.

Now, for the third time, a fresh circular was issued on Tuesday (October 21).

Asked why the government has failed to curb unnecessary foreign trips despite the chief adviser’s clear directives, former additional secretary and public administration expert Firoz Miah told journalists, “Has the government taken any action against those who violated the rules? I doubt it. That’s why the instructions are being ignored.”

“If one or two top officials were punished for defying the order, no one would dare to violate it again,” he added, noting that “repeatedly issuing letters reflects a kind of weakness.”

Here are the 13-point travel restrictions issued by the Chief Adviser’s Office:

The Chief Adviser’s Office, through a circular signed by principal Secretary M Siraj Uddin Miah on December 9, reiterated the 13-point restrictions on foreign travel.

• Foreign trips will generally be discouraged.
• Ministries must prepare and submit an annual list of probable foreign visits.
• Each ministry must maintain a database of foreign travel; the Chief Adviser’s Office will design the format and preserve the data.
• Officials at different levels should avoid travelling abroad at the same time.
• Advisers and secretaries of the same ministry should not travel abroad together unless it is essential for national interest, which must be clearly justified.
• Secretaries and heads of departments or agencies under the same ministry should not travel abroad together unless absolutely necessary.
• For seminars or workshops abroad, the proposal must mention which level of officials were invited and the participation level from other countries.
• Each travel proposal must specify the necessity of the trip and the relevance of the nominated officer.
• For procurement, pre-shipment inspection, or factory acceptance tests, only relevant technical experts should be nominated.
• Unnecessary foreign trips at government expense must be avoided.
• All officials must refrain from pleasure or recreational travel abroad.
• Long-term study leave abroad should be discouraged.
• Each proposal must include a record of the concerned official’s foreign trips during the past year.