Cabinet secy urges ministries to expedite activities, proposals, highlight govt achievements

Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani has directed the secretaries of different ministries and divisions to expedite administrative activities and send proposals, along with their summaries, to the Cabinet Division without delay.

He has also instructed ministries and divisions to highlight the government’s development activities and various initiatives to the public, particularly their progress and achievements amid prevailing political and economic challenges.

The directives came at an emergency meeting of secretaries held at the Secretariat today (12 November), where participants also discussed the current political situation, labour unrest, and the administration’s responsibilities.

The meeting, chaired by Ghani, was called through a notice issued around noon, after the day’s official activities had begun. Md Nazimul Haider, a deputy secretary of the Cabinet Division, sent the notice.

The meeting began at 2:30pm at the Cabinet Division’s conference room and continued until 4:30pm. Senior secretaries and secretaries from various ministries and divisions attended.

A secretaries’ meeting is considered one of the most important coordination platforms in the administration, playing a key role in implementing government policy decisions, ensuring coordination among ministries, and reviewing administrative progress.

A source present at the meeting told The Business Standard that ministries were instructed to send their proposals to the Cabinet Division promptly, along with the relevant summaries. Emphasis was also placed on accelerating administrative work.

At the meeting, the source said, the question of whether anyone was waiting for December was also raised – hinting towards the talk surrounding ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent remarks that she wanted to return to Bangladesh from India next month.

The secretaries discussed whether there was any tendency within the administration to slow down the pace of work, said the source.

A secretary who attended the meeting, speaking to TBS on condition of anonymity, said the government would address the prevailing political situation through political means.

However, all ministries, divisions, and agencies have been asked to present information on the government’s development activities and initiatives to the public, the secretary said.

Despite various political and economic challenges, the government is trying to move the country forward, they said, adding that its activities and achievements would be highlighted through different ministries, departments, and agencies to inform the public about the support it has received both at home and abroad.

The meeting also discussed recent protests by the readymade garment workers, although the specific decisions or directives issued on the issue could not be confirmed.