No house allowance if govt employees do not use quarters: PM
Many government houses remain unoccupied as public employees live elsewhere
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed the authorities concerned to deduct housing allowance of government employees from their salaries if they do not live in houses designated for them.
Government employees will have to live in the houses officially allotted to them, she said while approving the revised proposal for the Further Development of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology project at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council's (Ecnec) meeting on Tuesday.
Addressing a press briefing after the meeting, Planning Commission's Senior Secretary Md Ashadul Islam said, "There are housing arrangements for government employees, including teachers and doctors, but it is seen that they do not live there."
"Housing allowance is deducted if a public employee lives in a government house. Someone can stay elsewhere by paying less.
"That is why many government employees are not living in houses officially allotted to them. As a result, the houses built with government money remain unused," Ashadul explained.
He continued, "Taking this into consideration, the prime minister said government employees have to live in the houses designated for them. Otherwise, they will not receive the housing allowance."
Ashadul said the prime minister had urged universities to ensure accountability in spending money despite enjoying autonomy.
"She also directed the authorities concerned to formulate a separate master plan for each university to ensure future development."
The secretary said the location of any infrastructure of a university should be specified in advance.
"If that happens, playgrounds and reservoirs will not need to be filled and trees felled."
He said the prime minister had directed the authorities concerned to formulate a separate master plan to ensure the development of each upazila of the country.
"She also directed the authorities concerned to check whether the quality of work done for the development of rural infrastructure was being ensured."
Ashadul also said instructions had been given to increase the use of surface water during the approval of the Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene for Human Resource Development project.
