The Cabinet Division has issued stringent instructions to government officials to cease the misuse of government vehicles, following a letter from the Chief Adviser's Office.
The directive, released on Tuesday, aims to address the increasing trend of unauthorized vehicle usage among public employees.
According to the letter, the unauthorized use of vehicles by certain government employees has led to disorder within public administration and financial wastage.
It has also raised ethical concerns, severely damaging the public image of government officials and casting doubts on the government's accountability. The government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy regarding such practices.
In light of these concerns, the Cabinet Secretary has been requested to take strict measures to prevent the unauthorized use of vehicles by officials.
The Chief Adviser's Office noted in a letter dated September 2 that it has come to the government's attention that several public employees are using government vehicles in violation of established regulations.
Some ministries and divisions are reportedly requesting vehicles from various offices, departments, agencies, banks, and insurance companies without valid justification.
Furthermore, certain officials, who have availed themselves of interest-free loans and vehicle services under the "Policy for Cashing Vehicle Services and Interest-Free Loans for Eligible Government Officials - 2020," continue to use government vehicles improperly, despite having received maintenance funds (Tk50,000).
The policy's Article 17 clearly outlines measures to prevent such irregularities and provides explicit guidance on the issue.