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TL;DR
- The government has ordered all government employees to submit their wealth statements to enhance transparency and accountability.
- Dr. Md Mokhles ur Rahman, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, issued the directive on September 1, 2024.
- Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to the interim government, emphasized regular asset disclosures in his national address on August 25, 2024.
- The initiative is part of a broader effort to combat corruption and ensure ethical governance within the public sector.
The government has ordered that all government employees submit their wealth statements. This directive was issued by Dr. Md Mokhles ur Rahman, the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, as announced by Mohammad Zakir Hossain, the ministry’s senior information officer, on Sunday.
The decision follows a recent address to the nation by Prof. Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser to the interim government, on August 25. In his speech, Prof. Yunus emphasized the importance of regular asset disclosure for government employees, stating, “Government employees should regularly submit their wealth statements.” He further committed that all advisers would publish their asset details promptly, underscoring that “Regular asset disclosure will be made mandatory for all government servants.”
This policy is part of a broader initiative to foster transparency in government operations and ensure that public servants are held accountable for their financial disclosures. The requirement for wealth statement submissions is not entirely new. A regulation from 1979 already mandates that government employees submit their wealth statements, although compliance has been inconsistent over the years.
Currently, there are approximately 1.5 million government employees in the country, all of whom are now expected to comply with this directive. The Ministry of Public Administration has issued a formal notice, signed by Mohammad Zakir Hossain, to ensure that all public service holders are aware of and adhere to this requirement.
This move is seen as a critical step in promoting ethical governance and combating corruption within the public sector. By requiring regular and transparent disclosures of assets, the government aims to build public trust and ensure that government officials are not misusing their positions for personal gain.
Source: The Daily Star
