In response to the country’s shifting political landscape, the government has instructed civil servants to adopt heightened caution in their duties.
The Ministry of Public Administration recently issued a comprehensive nine-point directive, circulated to all secretaries, aimed at mitigating any potential controversies linked to public functions.
This directive, signed by Dr Md Mokhlesur Rahman, senior secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration, emphasises specific considerations for officials before attending events, particularly those involving external organisations.
The ministry has suggested that secretaries, heads of departments, and senior field administration officials ensure clear knowledge of the organising entity, even recommending collaboration with intelligence agencies if needed to gain a thorough understanding of an event’s background.
Given the absence of elected representatives at the highest level and the reduced number of advisers in the interim government, civil servants are currently bearing the primary responsibility for leadership within both the secretariat and field administration.
Recent reports of discomforting incidents at certain events have prompted these directives, intended to safeguard officials from unnecessary complications.
Key guidelines outlined in the letter include:
- Verification of Invitations: Officials are advised to thoroughly review invitations, assessing the credibility of the organising institutions before accepting them.
- Information on Other Guests: To avoid controversies, officials are to gather details on other invitees. Should any controversial individuals be present on the guest list, officials are advised to refrain from attending.
- Review of Event Materials: Invitations, banners, leaflets, flags, and other printed materials must be checked for any content that might be deemed offensive or controversial.
- Ensuring Security: Law enforcement and intelligence agencies are to be consulted to ensure robust security at events.
- Self-Prepared Event Documentation: For events organised by government offices, officials are urged to meticulously check materials like invitations, banners, presentations, certificates, trophies, medals, and souvenirs to ensure no objectionable or controversial content is present.
- Observance of Cancelled National Days: Caution must be taken to ensure that days officially cancelled by the government are not observed.
- Removal of Commemorative Items: Offices are instructed to clear any souvenirs, crests, photographs, or memorabilia associated with now-cancelled days or figures from previous years.
- Use of Written Speeches: Officials are directed to prepare written speeches for all formal gatherings and to refrain from using slogans, chants, or statements outside the prepared text.
- Avoidance of Rumours: Officials are to avoid engaging in any kind of rumour-mongering and are instructed to keep their colleagues away from such activities.
Dr Mokhlesur Rahman’s letter further suggests that secretaries communicate these guidelines formally within their respective departments, ensuring that all levels of public officials remain well-informed of these measures.
The directive also addresses the prohibition of events commemorating specific days that have been officially cancelled by the government since it assumed office.
Any remaining memorabilia related to these days are to be removed from offices.
The Ministry of Public Administration has emphasised the importance of written statements in official functions, underscoring the need for officials to abstain from impromptu remarks or slogans that could invite controversy.
Additionally, officials are instructed to prevent employees within their departments from being misled by rumours.
This directive has been distributed to all government secretaries, who have been urged to disseminate the information to their respective departments and agencies through informal letters to ensure the directives are thoroughly understood and implemented by public servants at all levels.
