Have to Ensure Accountability in Govt Offices up to Grassroots Level: PM Hasina

In order to make Bangladesh a developed and successful nation by the year 2041, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged government personnel to establish accountability all the way down to the local level of government agencies. 

"The ministries will sign the APA with their other offices so that communication and accountability is ensured (in government offices) up to the grassroots level. If we could work in this way, we can turn Bangladesh into a developed-prosperous country by 2041," she said. 

At a signing ceremony for Annual Performance Agreements (APAs) for the fiscal year 2023–2024 held at her office, the premier made this statement.

Additionally, she asked the top government officials to train their successors to be capable of carrying out the government's plans for action.

She said, "Any tough situation can be overcome or even impossible things can also be made possible, if we go forward showing sincerity towards work, having a sense of self-esteem, ensuring accountability, and staying away from corruption. Today our Bangladesh has proven it." 

The APAs were signed by the Cabinet Division and the ministries and divisions. 

The secretaries of the several ministries and divisions gave the APAs to the prime minister.

The government offices and officials were given the APA Award for the fiscal year 2021–2022 and the Integrity Award for the fiscal year 2022–2023 at the event in recognition of their outstanding performance in implementing the APA and providing services.

Sheikh Hasina anticipated that through conquering both natural and man-made crises, the government could advance Bangladesh.

"The man-made disasters may come alongside natural calamities. We'll be able to take the country forward by overcoming all sorts of disasters. I believe it," she said.

She urged everyone to increase food production and to cultivate every square inch of available land so that Bangladesh may become self-sufficient in terms of food in the face of the current global crisis.

Farhad Hossain, the state minister for public administration, spoke at the event, while Md. Mahbub Hossain, the cabinet secretary, welcomed everyone.

Both Public Administration Secretary Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury and Planning Division Secretary Satyajit Karmakar, who won the Integrity Award 2022–2023, spoke at the occasion.

The Public Administration Ministry has attained the first Award in the APA implementation for 2021-2022, while the Power Division and the Agricultural Ministry gained the second and third position respectively.

The ministries and divisions that attained fourth to tenth position in the implementation of APA are - finance division, ICT division, IMED, energy and mineral resources division, ministry of water resources, planning division, rural development and cooperatives division.