Secretaries asked to be careful in preparing project proposals, financing
The cabinet secretary said there was no discussion regarding the election or any instructions for field administration in the meeting
Secretaries have been asked to exercise caution in preparing project proposals and financing to bring transparency to the implementation of development projects.
During a secretaries committee meeting held on Monday, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Mahbub Hossain urged the secretaries to visit the project area regularly to ensure the quality of the projects.
In addition, Mahbub Hossain emphasised the appointment of manpower to vacant government posts before the upcoming parliamentary elections.
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As per the rules, the secretaries' meeting, chaired by the cabinet secretary, is held once a month. However, the first secretary meeting, seven months after the current cabinet secretary took charge, was held on Monday.
After the meeting, a secretary, requesting anonymity, told The Business Standard that secretaries have been instructed to be more involved in taking up development projects, starting from feasibility studies to preparing development project proposals (DPPs).
"The cabinet secretary said many inconsistencies are found when DPPs are sent to the Ministry of Planning. Additional allocations are proposed for various matters including unnecessary foreign travel and the appointment of consultants. These allocations have to be cancelled later as per the recommendation of the Planning Commission. If the secretary of the concerned ministry is involved during the formulation of DPP, it is possible to remove these inconsistencies," he said.
Another secretary, on condition of anonymity, told TBS that there are about three lakh vacant posts in the government. Secretaries have been instructed to fill these vacancies as much as possible before the upcoming national parliament elections.
He said the cabinet secretary has directed to expedite the implementation of important projects which are almost completed. Secretaries were asked to submit a list of projects that can be inaugurated by the prime minister before the next general election.
After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain told reporters that secretaries have been advised to monitor the global trade and investment situation.
The cabinet secretary also said there was no discussion regarding the election or any instructions for field administration in the meeting.
