Dhaka, Dec 11 (V7N) – The government has introduced stricter guidelines to limit foreign travel by public service officials, permitting such trips only when deemed essential for national interests.

The Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed the updated rules on Wednesday, following a circular from the Chief Adviser’s Office earlier this week.

The directives prohibit group travel abroad unless unavoidable, and follow similar restrictions imposed in the previous fiscal year due to a persistent dollar shortage.

Key Directives

  • Foreign travel by public officials is restricted to cases of absolute necessity.
  • Ministries must prepare an annual forecast of potential foreign trips.
  • A centralized database to track official foreign travel will be developed, overseen by the Chief Adviser’s Office.
  • Group travel by officials is discouraged, and ministers or secretaries must justify joint travel based on critical national interests.
  • Participation in seminars or workshops abroad must be justified, including details about the ranks of invited officials and their counterparts.
  • Only experts directly relevant to tasks like pre-shipment inspections or factory acceptance tests may be sent abroad.
  • Low-priority and recreational trips funded by government resources are prohibited.
  • Extended study leaves abroad for officials are discouraged.
  • Travel proposals must include records of an official’s foreign trips in the past year.

Exceptions to these rules will require substantial justification to ensure alignment with national priorities.

The tightened measures aim to optimize public expenditure and manage foreign currency reserves effectively.

END/MSS/AJ