Interim govt moves to publish advisers' full asset disclosures

To enhance transparency and build public trust in the financial integrity of government officials, the interim government has decided to disclose the asset statements of all Advisory Council members and other officials of equivalent rank.

A draft policy outlining this requirement is expected to be approved at the Advisory Council meeting on Thursday, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Officials involved in the process told TBS that, under this new policy, the fixed and temporary assets of advisers will be made public annually.

This policy follows the pledge made by the interim government's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus during his first address to the nation.

"Our advisers will publish their asset details as soon as possible. Over time, this will be made regular and compulsory for all government officials," Yunus said.

In addition to this, the chief adviser announced plans to draft an ordinance for appointing an ombudsman to combat corruption at the state level.

After the interim government, led by Yunus, had assumed office on 8 August, it mandated that all government employees have to submit asset statements.

The interim administration wants to publish the asset statements of Advisory Council members and their equivalents before the employees.

There have long been calls for increased transparency to combat corruption at the state level, including demands to publish asset statements for ministers, MPs, and officials.

Previous governments, including the Awami League in their 2008 election manifesto, promised such disclosures but failed to follow through.

Recent affidavits from general elections and upazila parishad elections have shown substantial increases in the wealth of various ministers, MPs, and politicians.

The Anti-Corruption Commission is probing corruption allegations against former IGP Benazir Ahmed, former NBR member Matiur Rahman, and other officials who have amassed significant property through illicit means.

To address these issues, the Ministry of Public Administration has established a committee to determine the format in which the officials will reveal their asset information.

On 2 September, Senior Secretary to the ministry Mokhlesur Rahman told reporters, "This initiative is a stance against corruption. While not everyone submits income tax returns – only those with taxable income do – now even those with no assets must provide information or returns. This is a matter of public interest."

According to officials, a new policy addressing the implementation, maintenance, and naming of state-funded projects might be approved at today's advisory council meeting.

In Bangladesh, it is common for major projects to be named after political figures and their relatives. Each change in government often leads to the renaming of many institutions.

Over the past 16 years, the ousted Awami League government has renamed numerous significant establishments and created facilities named after Bangabandhu and his family members.

The interim government aims to put an end to these practices with the proposed policy.