United News of Bangladesh

The government has formed a ministerial-level committee to address the global energy crisis amid the ongoing war, with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury appointed as its head. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting on Thursday at the Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani told reporters. When asked if the Prime Minister had issued instructions on saving electricity, the Cabinet Secretary said numerous measures have been introduced. He added that the Prime Minister's Office has launched a programme to conserve electricity. “These measures include reducing the use of lights by half. Blinds will be removed to allow more sunlight. Bathroom lights will be minimised, and energy-saving lights will be installed in corridors,” he said. Regarding air conditioners, he said, “Illegal AC units will be shut down. No AC will operate below 25 degrees Celsius.” Asked if these rules apply to mosques and ministers, he said, “This is applicable to everyone. All government offices and courts are included.” On the Middle East war situation, he added, “Energy is now a problem worldwide. If this war continues, we will face serious difficulties. That is why a ministerial-level committee has been formed to manage the crisis.” Addressing concerns over the previous lack of implementation of the 25-degree AC rule, he said, “This time, the committee will ensure proper enforcement.” They will visit offices to monitor compliance. “As a nation, we must make progress and follow the necessary measures,” the cabinet secretary added.

The government will take strict action in accordance with existing laws and regulations against officials and employees who fail to attend office on time, said Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani on Thursday. “If government officials and employees do not attend office at the scheduled time, strict action will be taken in line with the prevailing laws and rules,” he told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting. Referring to Prime Minister Tareque Rahman’s punctuality, Gani said the prime minister arrives at his office before 9:00am every day. He said the prime minister often reaches the Secretariat early in the morning without protocol arrangements, in an effort to ease public suffering and avoid traffic congestion. According to the cabinet secretary, the prime minister’s timely presence has created awareness and ‘positive pressure’ among officials regarding punctuality. Responding to a question about the prime minister’s use of the Secretariat, Gani said he has a designated office there and may hold office on any day at his discretion. On the issue of an administrative reshuffle, the cabinet secretary said such changes are a normal process and would take place in due course. He also said that cabinet meetings will be held every Thursday.

The government has appointed Nasimul Gani as the new Cabinet Secretary. The Ministry of Public Administration on Monday issued a notification in this regard. Prior to his appointment, Nasimul Gani was serving as the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Earlier on Saturday (Feb 14), the government cancelled the remaining tenure of the contractual appointment of former Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur  Rashid. Officials said the cancellation was made following an application submitted by Abdur Rashid.  

The government on Saturday assigned Chief Adviser’s Principal Secretary M Siraz Uddin Miah the additional responsibility of Cabinet Secretary. The Public Administration Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Saturday night. The order will come into effect immediately, the notification said. In another notification, the government cancelled the remaining tenure of the contract of Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid, who was previously in charge of the post.

The use of harmful single-use plastic items at the Bangladesh Secretariat will be banned from October 2, 2025, said Cabinet Secretary Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid on Tuesday. He made this announcement while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled “Sustainable Plastic Use in the Secretariat: A Future for a Single-Use Plastic Free Environment”, organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at the Multipurpose Hall of the Finance Division, said a press release. Abdur Rashid said plastic pollution is a global challenge requiring collective international efforts. “Our actions must not only serve our present needs but also safeguard the future for the next generation. We must leave behind a healthier and more sustainable world for them,” he added. Lack of coordination dooms govt drive against polythene, single-use plastics Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, who chaired the seminar, said the Ministry will soon formulate and implement a detailed action plan to enforce the ban. She said the Secretariat will be made environment-friendly through coordinated efforts of all ministries. The government has officially categorised 17 items as single-use plastic including disposable cutlery, chocolate wrappers, plastic invitation cards and banners, Styrofoam food containers, thin plastic packaging, plastic bottles and caps, among others, as part of its effort to protect the environment and control pollution.

The government on Tuesday appointed Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid as the cabinet secretary for the next two years on a contractual basis. A gazette notification, signed by Nilufa Yeasmin, senior assistant secretary of Contract and Foreign Employment Section of the Ministry of Public Administration, was issued in this regard. His two-year service will be counted from October 14 or the day when he will join, the notification says. Constitution reform commission: Cabinet Division issues gazette notification Dr Rashid was appointed following section-49 of the Public Service Act-2018, the release added. Rashid’s Journey in BCS Job   A senior secretary at the Secondary and Higher Education Division, Rashid joined the Bangladesh Civil Service as an admin cadre in 1982. He will join as the 25th cabinet secretary replacing Md Mahbub Hossain. The contractual tenure of the current Secretary Mahbub will end on October 13 but Wednesday will be his last working day as a four-day holiday will begin from Thursday. After the mass upsurge, the interim government appointed Dr Rashid as Secondary and Higher Education secretary and later he was made senior secretary. Completing honours and master’s degrees on Political Science from Dhaka University, he did MA degree on Public Policy and Administration from Hague’s Institute of Social Studies. Born in Satkhira on May 5, 1952, Rashid also did his PhD degree on Public Administration from Dhaka University. The cabinet secretary is entrusted with duties to coordinate among several ministries and divisions.

Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban.  President's press secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB that the cabinet secretary apprised the President of various aspects of the administrative activities at his office during the meeting. Also Read: Protect human rights in every area, President to National Human Rights Commission The cabinet secretary sought the direction and cooperation of the President in discharging his duties while the President wished the success of the cabinet secretary. Also Read: Thimpu to ink a hydropower cooperation deal with Dhaka soon: Bhutanese Envoy President's Office Secretary Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Press Secretary Joynal Abedin and Secretary (attachment) Md Wahidul Islam Khan were also present there.    

Senior secretary to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division Md Mahbub Hossain has been appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary. The Public Administration Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Tuesday (January 03, 2023). Read More: Visiting foreign personalities to become Bangladesh’s goodwill envoys, ministry hopes Meanwhile, Dr. Md. Khairuzzaman Mozumder, additional secretary to the Finance Division, has been made secretary to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, said another notification of the ministry.

New Cabinet Secretary Kabir Bin Anwar met with President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban in the capital Monday. The president congratulated him on his appointment as cabinet secretary. He also wished Kabir success in his new workplace, President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin said. Read: New Japanese Ambassador presents credentials to President During the meeting, the new cabinet secretary sought the president's guidance and cooperation in fulfilling his duties, he added.

There will be no food crisis till the next Ramadan in the country, said outgoing Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam on Tuesday. The food stock position up to next June shows that there will be no food crisis, he told  reporters after a meeting of the Committee of Secretaries at the Secretariat. Read more: IFC giving $32.5 million to ensure food security in Bangladesh The Agriculture Secretary has been coordinating for the last six months in this regard. “More than 16 lakh tonnes of food remains in stock. So we are in a good situation.” He said the yield of Aman paddy has been good this year as Aman has been cultivated  in the low lands as the drought has been prolonged. Besides, various food aid services including open market sale (OMS) will continue, he added. On November 27, all secretaries had a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a follow-up meeting was held today, said the cabinet secretary. “We have received a review from all our secretaries on the cost reduction efforts like how entertainment cost is reduced, how electricity bill is reduced, then how much is being reduced in petrol consuming,” he said. Read more: Russia wants to support countries in energy, food security: Ambassador It has been possible to reduce the cost of electricity by about 48 percent since June, he said adding that the Prime Minister's office has reduced it by more than 60 percent and 40 percent cost reduction in fuel consumption has been possible, he added. In the meeting of the secretaries with the Prime Minister, directive was given to get prepared for any possible crisis, he said . Asked about the crisis, he said, it is not a political issue. If the supply chain is stopped due to any reason, for one or two months, all have been asked to get prepared for that, added the cabinet secretary.