A five-member committee has been formed to establish a process for all government employees to declare their assets. 

The committee, led by the Secretary of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), was formed to ensure transparency and accountability among government employees, according to Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Md. Mokhles Ur Rahman.

The committee includes representatives from the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the Finance Division, the Office of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), and the Ministry of Public Administration.

The committee would also determine the penalties for non-compliance, said Mokhles Ur Rahman during a briefing at the Secretariat on Monday. 

When asked about the submission process and deadline, he said, "We have around 15 lakh employees. Initially, we thought only the tax-paying officials would need to submit statements. However, we discovered that employees, like drivers and fourth-class workers, have amassed significant sums, sometimes as much as Tk 400 crore or Tk 9 crore. Therefore, we will implement a system that allows everyone to submit their financial statements."

The senior secretary said a five-member committee, led by the secretary of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), was formed to ensure transparency and accountability among government employees. The committee includes representatives from the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the Finance Division, the Office of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), and the Ministry of Public Administration.

He further said: "This committee will develop a form where employees can mention all wealth statements, including bank accounts, lands, savings certificates, and asset details. The form will be unified. This initiative aims to reduce corruption. It's a significant undertaking, but it will be effective."

Mokhlesur Rahman said, "Once the format is finalized, it should take not more than seven days. If all goes as planned, it will take seven more days to be fully operational. We will then announce the submission deadline, and these statements will need to be submitted annually. The form will be created in Bengali and will clearly outline what should be included apart from movable and immovable property declarations."

Regarding the provision of punishment for non-compliance, the senior secretary informed reporters: "We will determine the penalties and actions to be taken against those who fail to submit their statements."

BDST: 1629 HRS, SEP 2, 2024
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