The government on Wednesday restricted overseas travels for government finance officials, especially senior officials working in the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Finance Ministry’s Internal Resources Division (IRD), and all the banks.
Bangladesh Bank has imposed restrictions on foreign travel of bank officials and employees until the 13th National Election is held.
The directive has been issued to avoid any kind of vacancy or administrative disruption in banking activities surrounding the elections.
On Wednesday (November 26), the Banking Regulations and Policy Department (BRPD) of Bangladesh Bank issued a circular in this regard.
It said that the managing directors, chief executive officers and other officials and employees of bank companies will not travel abroad except for very urgent and absolutely essential reasons.
The central bank mentioned in the directive that this “limited travel policy” has been implemented in the interest of keeping the banking sector stable and smooth during the election period.
Necessary precautions have been taken considering that if a vacancy arises in important administrative posts ahead of the elections, it could cause disruption in the operation of the bank.
Bangladesh Bank has issued the decision under the powers conferred under Section 45 of the Banking Companies Act, 1991, which will come into effect immediately.
Similarly, strict conditions have been imposed on foreign travel of officials and employees of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Internal Resources Division (IRD) until the next national elections are held.
Any foreign travel except for essential reasons has been completely banned. The NBR issued a directive in this regard on Wednesday (November 26).
Based on the directive sent by the Office of the Chief Adviser, the IRD Secretary informed the NBR about the matter.
Later, the NBR published information on the new restrictions on foreign travel on its website.
According to government sources, there have been allegations that in recent times, ignoring government directives, several officials of the same ministry went on foreign trips together and the adviser and secretary in charge of the ministry also stayed abroad at the same time.
Since such a situation disrupts administrative activities and is against government policies, the Office of the Chief Adviser has taken a strict stand.
The new directive states that foreign travel will be possible only for extremely urgent reasons until the elections are held.
“Essential reasons” refers to medical treatment, pilgrimage and essential official needs.
Currently, there are several thousand officials and employees working in the NBR and IRD.
The new restrictions will be mandatory for all of them from now on.
The government believes that it is important to maintain continuity in administrative work and reduce unnecessary foreign travel in view of the elections. Therefore, there is a possibility of taking disciplinary action later if the instructions are not followed.
