Adviser Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan has issued a directive prohibiting officials from accepting honorariums for attending meetings held during government-specified office hours.

A formal letter containing this instruction was recently sent to the secretaries of various ministries and departments under his purview.

Fauzul Kabir oversees the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, and the Ministry of Railways.

The letter explicitly says: "Acceptance of any kind of honorarium for attending any meeting during the office hours set by the government must be avoided."

The advisory applies to senior officials across multiple departments, including the Senior Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division, the Secretary of the Power Division, the Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, the Secretary of the Railways Division, and the Secretary of the Bridges Division.

In response to queries, Saiful Islam, the adviser`s private secretary (deputy secretary), told Jago News: "According to the instructions, no money can be accepted for attending regular meetings held during office hours. However, in cases where there are specific projects or special assignments, and where the Ministry of Finance has issued a circular permitting honorariums, this directive will not apply."

The directive aims to ensure transparency and accountability within government operations, discouraging practices that could lead to misuse of public resources. By limiting honorarium payments to only exceptional circumstances with prior approval, the adviser seeks to streamline official conduct and uphold ethical standards.