The government decided Monday to enhance the financial power of the heads of departments, district and upazila-level officials for gearing up development activity commensurate with increasing budgetary allocations.
Officials said the government decision came following the cabinet approval for a proposal vesting more financial powers in these officials, or even project directors, for accelerating development projects to be implemented by them.
The decision was taken against the backdrop of growth of the national budget and size of the country's economy.
However, the financial power of the cabinet committee on purchase will remain unchanged.
Held at Bangladesh Secretariat, the meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was learnt to have paid a hearing to issues of the country's current political situation.
Details were not available.
"The cabinet gave the approval for increasing financial powers of the field-level officials for carrying out development projects," cabinet secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told the media after the meeting.
He said the finance division under the ministry of finance will ascertain the fresh financial power of the officials. A government notification to this effect will be issued soon.
"The finance division will fix it upon consultation with the government agencies," the official said.
Mr Musharraf Bhuiyan, however, said if the expenditure goes above Tk 500 million (Tk 50 crore), it must need approval from the cabinet committee on purchase.
Also, the council of ministers approved its previous decision for annulment of the Bangladesh Railway Board (Repeal) Act 1983 in view of inoperativeness of the law.
It also adopted a resolution giving thanks to the outgoing principal secretary to the Prime Minister, Abudus Sobhan Sikder, for his service to the nation in the last 34 years in different capacities in the civil administration.
Sikder went on leave preparatory to retirement (LPR) Sunday.
Meanwhile, informed sources said, the ongoing political situation came up for discussion during the meeting of the council of ministers.
In this context, the prime minister was learnt to have asked the ministry of local government and rural development to go fast for holding the Dhaka City Corporation elections.
Former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Annisul Huq is learnt to be an aspirant for the mayoral election to Dhaka North City Corporation (DSCC).
The cabinet also Bangladesh Railway Board (Repeal) Act 2014
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