Bangladesh News

Administrative activities at the Bangladesh Secretariat have slowed down as half a dozen advisers in charge of 12 ministries are now outside the country on official tours.

The ongoing administrative shake-up from late last month also added to the laid-back atmosphere, officials said.

“The absence of so many advisers all at a time has nearly stalled the administrative functioning of the ministries they head,” a senior official at the education ministry told The Daily Star yesterday.

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed’s Council of Advisers consists of 11 advisers. As the chief executive of their ministries, the advisers preside over policymaking meetings.

Barring routine work, the official cial said no policy or important decisions are taken in their absence.

Fakhruddin, who is in charge of the establishment and information ministries, is attending the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City.

He also heads the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat and the Cabinet Division.

He ended a five-day official visit to China on Friday and left the country the following day on a 10-day tour hours after announcing dates for the parliamentary and upazila polls.

He is expected to return home on September 30.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, who also heads the crucial expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry, is accompanying the chief adviser.

Adviser Rasheda K Choudhury, holding three ministries: primary and mass education, women and children affairs and the cultural affairs, has been abroad since September 17.

She left the country on a personal visit on September 17 and was supposed to join the CA-led delegation at the annual UNGA session. Officials at the primary and mass education ministry said she is unlikely to come back before Eid-ul-Fitr.

Commerce and Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman flew over to the United States on September 17 to attend an international seminar on education. He is expected to return home on September 30.

Finance and Planning Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam went to Saudi Arabia on Sunday. During his visit he will meet Islamic Development Bank President Dr Ahmed Mohammed Ali in Jeddah and discuss matters of mutual interest.

He is scheduled to fly back on September 29, said an official release.

Communications Adviser Ghulam Quader, also in charge of the public works and housing ministry, left Dhaka on September 15 for a seminar in Geneva. He was scheduled to come back Monday, but later changed it to today.