Tarique Rahman Sets a New Precedent

• Prime Minister Sets Example with Online Attendance, Praised Across All Quarters Including Government Officials and Staff

 Panchayet Habib

In the past, prime ministers of the country would sign the conventional paper attendance register at their own office, the Prime Minister’s Office, during their time in office. For the first time, Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman has set a precedent for discipline in government official work as well.

Instead of the conventional paper register, the Prime Minister now regularly gives digital or online attendance upon entering his own office. Just like other officials and staff, Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman himself is regularly giving online attendance when entering the Prime Minister’s Office. Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman is becoming a memorable figure in the country’s history for this. When leaving the office after the day’s work, he also logs his exit attendance through the designated system before leaving. After the victory in the 13th National Parliamentary election, Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman has taken several unconventional decisions under the banner of the slogan “Bangladesh First.” The new Prime Minister has decided to use his own arrangements for travel instead of government vehicles, drivers, and fuel, to reduce protocol, and to work even on Saturdays.

These initiatives are being praised across the country. Since taking office, Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman has been in discussion for taking a series of unconventional initiatives in running the state. His government is being praised across all quarters for taking public-welfare-oriented and bold steps that break from conventional practice. In particular, his firm stance on implementing the promises made in the election manifesto and on cutting administrative expenses has brought relief to ordinary people. According to administration experts and general government employees, Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman’s recent measures and strict directives have had a positive impact on public life within the administration.

On this matter, Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Mr. Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, told Inqilab that the Prime Minister himself, like other officials and staff, regularly gives online attendance upon entering the Secretariat. He called it a landmark discipline. He said the Prime Minister is the head of government for the people and loves to work the way the people do. The Prime Minister has given directives on reforming and modernizing field administration, saying that the government belongs to the people, and that administrative officials and staff should work to serve the people. He further said they have issued directives to field administration to implement Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman’s landmark measures, adding that the public must not be deprived of government services, and that Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman will be remembered in the country’s history.

Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman has begun implementing the government decision not to use “Mananyo” (Honorable) or other honorific terms, starting from his own office. Since taking office, he has already taken several steps to reduce personality-centrism and unnecessary pomp in state affairs. These include not using his photo in government activities and publicity, reducing the number of vehicles in the Prime Minister’s protocol, and not stopping traffic signals for ordinary people during his movement. The Prime Minister does not use a flag-bearing vehicle domestically or abroad except during state functions. Through these initiatives, the Prime Minister’s Office is trying to convey the message that a person holding a position of responsibility in the state will carry out their duties as part of the rules and institutional system, rather than through special privileges or special forms of address.

Since yesterday, Thursday morning, the process of dropping the word “Mananiyo” before his title in all files, documents, and official activities of the Prime Minister’s Office has begun. Earlier, last Wednesday, a circular issued by the Cabinet Division stated that the words “Mahamanya,” “Mananiyo,” or any other honorific could no longer be used in writing before the titles of the President, Prime Minister, Ministers, State Ministers, and Deputy Ministers in official correspondence, documents, and summaries.

Rather than leaving this top-level government directive confined to paper, the Prime Minister has begun implementing it in his own office. Files and other government documents presented to him have been instructed to use only “Prime Minister” instead of “Honorable Prime Minister.” The decision to drop the honorific is part of Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman’s series of positive initiatives. Through this, he is sending the message that responsibility, public service, and accountability to the country and its people should be given precedence over formal titles of status. At the same time, the Prime Minister is highlighting the view that institutional discipline and responsibility, rather than personal position, should be paramount in running the state. The Prime Minister is also trying to set an example in office discipline. Like other officials and staff, he too is regularly giving online attendance when entering the office, and follows the designated exit procedure when leaving after the day’s work.

Even as head of government, by applying office rules to himself, he wants to send a message to administrative officials and staff to follow the rules. The Prime Minister’s positive outlook is part of an initiative to establish punctuality, accountability, and discipline in the administration. When the person at the highest level of state governance follows ordinary office rules, the expectation for others in the administration to follow the same rules becomes clearer.

After the victory in the 13th National Parliamentary election, Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman has taken several unconventional decisions under the banner of “Bangladesh First.” Among the unconventional decisions the new Prime Minister has taken so far: Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman will use his personal vehicle, his own driver, and fuel he purchases himself for his travel. Keeping public inconvenience in mind, the Prime Minister’s motorcade, which previously had 13-14 vehicles, has been reduced to 4. Previously, police had to line up on both sides of the road during the Prime Minister’s movement — that practice has been abolished. The Prime Minister has decided not to use the national flag on his vehicle during ordinary travel except during state functions. To reduce public suffering, it has been decided that cabinet meetings will mostly be held at the Secretariat. Additionally, to speed up administrative work, Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman will also work on Saturdays. Last Wednesday, in a parliamentary session, Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman said the government has undertaken necessary reform and modernization of existing policies and management with the goal of making field administration more people-friendly, transparent, efficient, service-oriented, and accountable. He said special emphasis is currently being placed on simplifying services, use of digital technology, performance monitoring, complaint receipt and resolution, inspection and oversight, public hearings, implementation of the Right to Information Act, and improving the quality of citizen services, in order to make field administration people-friendly and accountable. He said that as part of this, the Service Simplification Guidelines 2026, the Government Office Website Guidelines 2026, and the District Commissioners’ Activity Evaluation Guidelines have been formulated in 2026. Additionally, various initiatives have been undertaken including D-Nothi, iBAS, e-Mutation, digital land management, e-GP, online GD, e-Return, e-Porcha, online collection of land development tax, and helpline numbers 999 and 333.

The Prime Minister said that a Government Performance Monitoring System (GPMS) has been launched for more effective monitoring and evaluation of government performance, and guidelines on the government performance monitoring method for the 2026-2027 fiscal year have been issued. He said that to make field administration activities more transparent and accountable, online meetings are held monthly with the Cabinet Division and various ministries and divisions. The Prime Minister expressed firm confidence that, going forward, necessary reform and modernization of existing policies and systems will continue in order to make field administration more people-friendly and citizen-centered — through further simplification of service delivery processes, increased reliance on technology, transparency and disclosure of information in activities, faster resolution of complaints, and strengthened outcome-based monitoring of performance.

Joint Secretary of the District Magistracy Wing of the Cabinet Division, Mr. Tanvir Ahmed, told Inqilab that the circular has already reached all parts of field administration. He said they received a few letters today showing that implementation of the circular is being observed. He said the circular issued by the Cabinet Division to drop “Mahamanya” before the President’s title and “Mananiyo” before the Prime Minister’s title has been in full implementation since today, Thursday. He added that action will be taken if any deviation from this is observed at any office.