Shafiqul Islam (Shafiq)
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain has made it clear that there is no such thing as government officials have to say sir or madam. He also said that 55 BCS cadre officers have been punished in 32 months for breach of discipline. Besides, government officials and employees as well as ministers will give an account of their assets. He was responding to various questions while participating in a dialogue organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Media Center at the Secretariat on Tuesday. BSRF President Tapan Biswas presided over the dialogue and General Secretary Masudul Haque conducted the dialogue. The chief information officer of information department Shahenur Mia and others was also present at the event.

The state minister for public administration said, Sir, madam or something like that has to be addressed, there is no such custom. Addressing the government officials, he said, your attitude is very important when someone goes to take service.

If you don’t have a welcoming attitude when someone goes to get a service, you are reprimanded or angry- these are corruption. Abuse amounts to corruption. It can’t be done. You speak beautifully, fluently. Your behavior means the behavior of the government. Everyone thinks your office is a part of the Prime Minister’s Office.

He said an incident had taken place recently when an official in the field administration did not address him. As we saw there, it happened to those who were around.

State Minister said the word sir means sir. Madam means greatness. Mr. or Mrs. It is not in the Rules of Business. What was the direction of the father of our nation? Look at those who come to you for service, like your brother, like your father, like your relatives.
Those who come to serve be the servants of the people. You are paid with people’s money. He also said that he wants the slogan of the father of the nation to be fully implemented.

Farhad Hossain said the government officials and employees as well as the ministers will give an account of the assets. We are doing this to maintain transparency. He added that 55 BCS cadre officers have been punished in 32 months for breach of discipline. In order to ensure accountability and good governance, action is taken in accordance with the Public Servants Discipline and Appeal Rules by following due process in case of breach of discipline by the officers and employees.

He said that from January 7, 2019 to September 5 this year (32 months), 55 officers of the administration cadre have been given mild and severe punishments. At present, 49 cases are pending for breach of discipline.

The state minister said a complete database was being set up to implement the ‘Right Man Right Place’ policy to place skilled officers in the right place at the earliest. That is, I am doing where the person is perfect. May the person we are giving he is perfect. We can take his performance and the government benefits.