Autonomous Bodies: Finance Division to have a say in their expenses

The cabinet yesterday approved a draft amendment to the Public Service Act- 2018, giving the Finance Division authority over the expenditures of autonomous, legislative and local government bodies.

The approval came at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister's Office.

Later, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said, "The Finance Division has the authority over the financial matters of the government entities, officials and employees in the existing Public Service Act-2018. But it was not clear what would be its role regarding the autonomous, legislative and local government bodies."

The Finance Division raised the issue, as most of the expenditures of the organisations are borne by the government. Therefore, the division should have some kind of authority over them, he said while briefing journalists at the Secretariat.

"For example, if a corporation or a local government organisation fixes its pay structure on its own, it won't work … The amendment has been made so that the Finance Division has a say."

Asked whether it would curtail the power of independent organisations like the Anti-Corruption Commission, Anwarul said, "You'll have to have vetting done by the Finance Division while fixing the pay structure and other expenditures. The rest will be done by the respective organisations."

He, however, said the practice had earlier been mandatory for the autonomous, legislative and local government bodies, but the enactment of the existing law in 2018 rendered it ambiguous.

Yesterday, the cabinet also discussed the need for strengthening the cyber security of the country, security of the national data centre and expediting the implementation of a newly adopted project on submarine cables.

In reply to a query, the cabinet secretary said the government was giving emphasis on cyber security as banking transactions and other activities have gone online. To prevent hacking, the government has given the instructions, he added.

The cabinet also approved the proposal to ratify the Minamata Convention on Mercury, an international treaty adopted in 2013 in Japan to protect humans and the environment from harmful effects of mercury pollution.

"The total mercury released in Bangladesh is approximately 32,660kg a year, which pollutes the environment," said the cabinet secretary.

The treaty came into effect in 2017 with 137 countries participating in the convention. The treaty banned the opening of new mercury mines and asked to close the existing ones gradually and restricted the use of mercury in products.

The cabinet cleared another proposal to ratify the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Besides, the meeting okayed the proposal for signing an agreement between Bangladesh and Iran to avoid double taxation and prevent tax dodging.

LAST MEETING

Yesterday was the last cabinet meeting for Anwarul as the secretary as he is going to retire on December 15.

"Let's see what I can do next. I'm lucky; perhaps I'm the longest serving civil servant. It's my 40th year as a government employee. I was also secretary for 12 years," he said when he was asked about his plans after retirement.

Asked, the cabinet secretary said, "Today [yesterday] is my last official meeting with you. You gave me tremendous support. I'm thankful to you."

"The cabinet thanked me for my service. I worked for the welfare of the people … There may be some mistakes and for that, I'm apologising to the people."