HC rejects writ seeking a ban on govt officials’ travel abroad

The High Court (HC) has rejected the writ petition seeking direction to ban unimportant foreign travels of government officials defying the government order considering the ongoing global economic crisis.

HC Bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order on Monday after a hearing on the public interest writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman.

The cabinet secretary, agriculture secretary, law secretary, finance secretary and chairman of the Anti-corruption Commission were made respondents to the writ.

"The court said the writ was rejected as the attorney general already took the responsibility of implementing the government order of restricting all foreign travels of government officials except in special cases," Barrister Suman told the media on Monday.

Barrister Suman files writ to stop unimportant foreign trips of govt officials

At the time of hearing in the court, Attorney general AM Amin Uddin said, "I am saying with a responsibility that no government official will go abroad without necessity."

The attorney general also said that the personal secretary (PS) of the agriculture minister had gone to an agricultural fair in the Netherlands, which is a special and significant trip for Bangladesh.

However, Barrister Suman said a minister's PS had gone abroad defying the government restriction on foreign travels of its officials. About 100 officials of the agriculture ministry already visited Floriade Expo 2022 in the Netherlands, which is a "mockery".

Earlier, on 12 May, the government issued a circular to stop all foreign travels of government officials except for special needs to reduce the pressure on the foreign exchange reserves of the country.