Highlights:
- PM urges officials to spend every penny of public money responsibly
- Development spending must serve national interests and public welfare
- Officials briefed the PM on projects, plans and targets
- Public servants should perform their duties sincerely and responsibly
- Field-level experience should inform government decisions and policymaking
- The government plans another meeting to review ministry progress
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged government officials to ensure that every penny allocated to development projects is spent properly in the interests of the country and its people.
He made the remarks at a meeting to review the activities of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the progress of its development projects at the Bangladesh Secretariat today (11 October).
Officials briefed the prime minister on the ministry’s ongoing activities, development projects, future plans and targets.
“You have undertaken many projects and set many targets. The government will allocate budgets to achieve those targets. But this is public money. I expect all of you to pay attention to ensuring that every penny is spent properly in the interests of the country and for the welfare of its people,” Tarique said.
He described public service as an opportunity to work for the country and its people, saying those entrusted with government responsibilities were privileged compared with the wider population.
“We who are here are all privileged compared with the overall population of Bangladesh. Allah has given us an opportunity to work for our country and its people,” he said.
Urging officials to perform their duties sincerely, the prime minister said opportunities to serve in particular positions did not last forever. He called on them to make the best use of their time in office to improve public welfare.
“Let us all try to make proper use of the opportunity we have, for as long as we have it, to work for the people and the country,” he said.
Tarique also encouraged officials to share their views more actively, saying their practical experience and observations from different levels of government could help inform decision-making.
He said the government would hold another meeting in the future to review the ministry’s progress and expressed hope that officials would speak more openly about their experiences, observations and opinions at subsequent meetings.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid, State Minister Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Secretary Delwar Hossain and senior ministry officials attended the meeting.
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