Rules of business ignored
The Cabinet Division has taken measures to prevent violations of the government's rules of business by some ministries and divisions, regarding obligation to consult the foreign ministry on issues that affect the country's international relations.
The government's Rules of Business 1996 strictly prohibits ministries and divisions from dealing with issues affecting the foreign relations of Bangladesh, without consultation with the foreign ministry.
The rules clearly specify the procedure for communicating with foreign governments and missions, and international agencies. It also specifies matters which must be submitted to the president and the prime minister, through the foreign ministry, for approval.
But non-compliance by some ministries and divisions compelled the foreign ministry to file a complaint with the Cabinet Division, a senior official of the foreign ministry said.
The official alleged that the ministries and divisions dealing with matters of trade and commerce, law and order, security, and a large number of foreign funded projects, have been frequently bypassing the obligatory consultation with the foreign ministry.
He said they were directly communicating with foreign governments and missions, and international agencies instead.
Some senior officials of the Prime Minister's Office also have been encouraging the PMO to bypass the foreign ministry in some cases, he added.
"The trend of bypassing the foreign ministry has increased recently. So, we wrote to the cabinet division to stop the practice," the official told The Daily Star on condition of anonymity.
On receiving the complaint, the Cabinet Division on August 18 issued a circular reminding all ministries and divisions including the PMO to comply with the rules.
The circular said some ministries and divisions are dealing with issues independently though the foreign ministry is involved in the matters. This is unwarranted and in breach of the rules of business.
The government expects the ministries and divisions to maintain discipline and dynamism in the administration by strictly adhering to the rules of business, the circular added.
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