In a sweeping cost-cutting measure, the interim government has announced a ban on the public purchase of vehicles and foreign trips by all government offices for the rest of the 2025-26 fiscal year. The directive, issued by the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday, is part of broader austerity efforts aimed at reducing public expenditure. FOREIGN TRIPS CURTAILEDAs part of the austerity policy, the government has also suspended all foreign travel by public officials for seminars, symposiums, and workshops under government-funded development projects. Similarly, foreign training programmes deemed essential for professional capacity development and funded by the government will continue to be permitted. It read: “All levels of government officials must avoid recreational foreign trips… Government officers and employees should refrain from taking extended study leave.”

Source: bd News24 July 09, 2025 22:54 UTC