DHAKA, Mar 29 (V7N) – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman conducted an unannounced inspection of the Bangladesh Secretariat early Sunday morning to monitor the attendance and punctuality of government officials. Arriving at 9:05 am, the Prime Minister’s visit signals a tightening of administrative discipline as the new government moves to fulfill its "service-at-the-doorstep" election pledges.

The Morning Inspection Route

The Prime Minister’s visit was marked by its physical and direct nature:

  • Ministries Visited: Starting from Building No. 1, the Prime Minister walked to Building No. 6, where she inspected the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Social Welfare, and the Ministry of Education.

  • Expanding the Scope: She later moved to Building No. 5 to visit the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, followed by the Ministry of Commerce in Building No. 3.

  • Objective: At each stop, she inquired about the attendance of senior and field-level staff, emphasizing that the mandatory 9:00 am to 9:40 am office presence—stipulated in a recent Cabinet Division circular—must be strictly followed to ensure uninterrupted citizen services.

Krishak Card Demo and Pilot Launch

Following the inspection, the Prime Minister arrived at her office in the Cabinet Division at approximately 10:00 am to preside over a high-level demonstration of the "Krishak Card" (Farmer Card).

  • The "Smart" Initiative: The Krishak Card is a landmark digital project designed to provide subsidies, agricultural loans (up to Taka 10,000 interest-free), and fertilizers directly to farmers, eliminating third-party middlemen.

  • The Timeline: Today’s demo serves as a final review before the program's formal pilot launch scheduled for Pahela Baishakh (April 14).

  • Scope: Under the pre-piloting phase, the government aims to distribute cards in 9 upazilas across 8 divisions, with each small or marginal farmer receiving an average of Taka 2,500 in direct financial assistance.

Restoring Administrative Mobility

The surprise visit comes just weeks after the 13th Jatiya Sangsad went into its maiden session on March 12. By personally walking through the Secretariat corridors, the Prime Minister has sent a clear message to the bureaucracy: the "culture of delay" from previous years will not be tolerated.

During the visit, the Prime Minister reportedly noted that "administration must be as dynamic as the aspirations of the people," urging officials to prioritize the digitization of records to complement the upcoming smart card initiatives.

END/SMA/AJ