With Prime Minister Tarique Rahman away on his first overseas tour, how is Bangladesh's administrative nerve centre functioning? Are officials still arriving on time? Are ministers maintaining regular attendance?
Those questions have gained renewed attention amid criticism inside and outside parliament over the frequent absence of ministers during the ongoing budget session.
Under Cabinet Division instructions, employees of government, semi-government and autonomous institutions are required to remain at their respective offices from 9am to 9:40am.
Many ministers and advisors accompanied the prime minister on his trip abroad. But are those who remained in the country following the prescribed schedule?
To find out, a six-member bdnews24.com reporting team visited ministries and departments across the Secretariat on Thursday morning.
They found several secretaries arriving only after office hours had begun, while ministers trickled in between 9:30am and 10am.
In ministries whose ministers were abroad on official business, many senior officials were still absent even one and a half hours after office hours began.
In some offices where ministers were in the country, preparations for cleaning and arranging rooms were still under way around 9:15am.
The earliest secretaries spotted entering their offices arrived at 9:07 am, though they insisted they normally report before 9am.
The reporters visited the Ministry of Public Administration, Cabinet Division, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Road Transport, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Rural Development and Cooperatives, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Financial Institutions Division.
The BNP, after nearly two decades out of power, had pledged before the February election to inject greater dynamism into the administration.
That commitment has been reflected in the premier’s actions since taking office.
From the outset, he regularly began work at the Secretariat, urging officials to be more productive.
He even worked on Saturdays and made surprise visits to seven ministries, drawing headlines while signalling his emphasis on attendance and discipline.
The Cabinet Division has also directed ministries to improve public services, accelerate administrative processes and strengthen coordination among government offices.
Its circular noted that employees often miss scheduled office hours because of seminars, workshops, training programmes or personal engagements, disrupting public services and inter-agency communication.
Parliament Criticism
The prime minister began his first foreign tour on Jun 21 with a visit to Malaysia before travelling directly to China. He is scheduled to return on Friday.
Meanwhile, parliament is debating the FY2026-27 budget announced on Jun 11. Opposition lawmaker Saiful Alam Khan Milon raised the issue of ministerial absences during proceedings.
"I have noticed that our ministers are absent most of the time during the budget session," the Dhaka-12 MP said.
"Look around -- the health minister, the home minister and many others are missing. The ministers' seats are empty. I seek your cooperation on this matter, speaker."
In response, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said: "I would like to see more ministers attending the budget session. Be grateful that at least the finance minister is here. Other ministers should also be encouraged to attend. The budget session is important, and their presence would be appreciated."
The speaker also expressed disappointment over ministers' absences, saying: "No state duty is more important than a parliamentary session. Among all state activities, parliament deserves the highest priority."
Against that backdrop, reporters set out to observe the Secretariat's morning routine.
What Reporters Found
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury remained in the country because of the budget session, while the Prime Minister's Finance Advisor Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir accompanied Tarique to China.
Between 9am and 9:05am, several key officials attached to the finance minister and advisor were absent from their offices.
One employee said, "The minister will arrive later. He may come around noon or 1pm."
The finance secretary was seen entering his office at 9:07am.
By 9:10am, officials were still absent from two of seven nearby offices. In the ministry's administration and coordination wing, three of 10 officials had not arrived by 9:15am.
At the Ministry of Commerce, the minister had still not arrived at 9:48am. Most officials in his office came after 9:15am. The minister eventually entered at 9:52am.
One official said, "To be honest, when the prime minister is away, the Secretariat is like a parliament without a quorum. Ministers do not feel the need to arrive early, and when ministers are absent, officials are less likely to come early too."
At 10:17am, the health minister's personal secretary and public relations officer were still absent.
"The minister is abroad. As for his secretary, I don't know why he is late today," an employee said.
Culture Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury entered Building No. 6 at around 9:30am.
Cleaning Minister's Office after 9am
At the Ministry of Home Affairs, the home secretary had not arrived by 9:03am, while his personal secretary was also absent. Both entered the ministry at 9:12am.
Around 9:15am., two employees, including a woman, were still cleaning the home minister's office.
Additional Secretary Faisal Ahmed arrived at 9:14am, while Additional Secretary Mohammad Abu Naim entered shortly after 9am.
At the Ministry of Religious Affairs, neither Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain Kaikobad nor his personal secretary had arrived by 9:30am.
One official said, "Sir may not come today."
Another said the minister was slightly unwell and might attend an Islamic Foundation programme, while an office assistant claimed the minister had parliamentary commitments.
The ministry's secretary was also absent despite reportedly having no scheduled engagements.
Late Arrivals, but 'On Time'
In Building No. 7, none of the secretaries of five ministries arrived before 9am.
Road Transport Secretary Md Ziaul Haque entered at 9:07am.
"I always arrive on time and try to be here before 9am," he said.
Youth and Sports Secretary Md Mahbub-Ul-Alam also entered at 9:07am.
Labour Secretary Abdur Rahman Tarafdar arrived at 9:30am, while Rural Development Secretary Mohammad Shawkat Rashid Chowdhury entered at 9:20am. Financial Institutions Division Secretary Nazma Mobarek arrived at 10am.
No ministers from the building's five ministries had arrived by 11am. State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque entered at 11am.
An aide to Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam said the minister would not come to the office because parliament was sitting in two sessions that day.
Education Minister Absent Too
Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon was not in his office when reporters visited around 9:15am. Neither was the ministry's public relations officer.
"He hasn't arrived. I can't say when he will come," an official said.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam was also absent at 9:21am, though she entered her office at around 9:34am.
Several ministry officials arrived after 9:27am, despite being expected to report by 9am.
When questioned about late arrivals, one staff member said: "They are supposed to be here by 9, but perhaps there was traffic."
A Different Picture at Public Administration
The Ministry of Public Administration, which oversees postings, promotions and disciplinary matters across the civil service, presented a stark contrast.
Officials said the situation had changed since the prime minister began working from the Secretariat's new building.
State Minister Md Abdul Bari arrived between 8:40am and 8:45am, while Senior Secretary Md Ehsanul Haque was already in his office before him.
Officials said the state minister usually signs documents before 10am. because of his busy schedule and meetings with the prime minister, encouraging others to arrive earlier as well.
When asked about widespread absenteeism across ministries, Senior Secretary Ehsanul Haque declined to comment after making reporters wait for about 35 minutes.
The state minister also could not be reached despite repeated phone calls and text messages.
Reporters similarly failed to obtain comments from Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani on whether the attendance directive was being monitored or effectively enforced.
