1.0pc service charge imposed on car loans for secretaries

The government has imposed a 1.0 per cent service charge on interest-free car loans totalling Tk 3.0 million for secretaries, reports bdnews24.com.
The public administration ministry issued the order in a gazette notification titled 'Interest-free car advance and transport service encashment policy 2018 (revised)' on Apr 25.
According to the order, government officials with the rank of secretary, additional secretary, joint secretary and deputy secretary are required to pay Tk 30,000 as service charge for interest-free car loans.
The government considered a number of factors, including car maintenance and registration costs, in determining the amount.
The government will also provide a monthly allowance of Tk 50,000 for the maintenance of vehicles.
Senior officials such as secretaries, additional secretaries and joint secretaries are recognised as privileged government officials. Deputy secretaries were also included in this list in 2017.
The public administration ministry had previously formulated a gazette notification titled 'Interest-free car advance and transport service encashment policy 2017 (revised)' in 2017 relating to loans for privileged government officials.