The Office of the Chief Adviser has issued a directive to halt the unauthorized use of government vehicles by officials.

A letter was sent on Monday from the Office of the Chief Adviser to the secretaries of all ministries and departments, instructing them to enforce this directive.

The letter noted that the government had observed that many public servants were using government vehicles in violation of existing rules and without proper authorization. In some cases, vehicles are being requisitioned from various departments, directorates, agencies, banks, insurance companies, and other organizations without any valid reason.

Furthermore, the letter pointed out that certain officials, who have already received interest-free loans for vehicles under the 'Interest-Free Loan and Vehicle Service Monetization Policy-2020,' are still using vehicles from various government institutions in an unethical and unauthorized manner, despite receiving the full maintenance allowance of BDT 50,000. Clause 17 of the policy explicitly prohibits such irregularities.

The letter further stated that the tendency of some public servants to use unauthorized vehicles is causing disorder within the civil service, leading to financial waste, and raising ethical concerns that severely damage the public image of government employees. This, in turn, is creating doubts among the public about the government’s commitment to accountability.

In light of this, the secretaries were urged to strictly prohibit the unauthorized use of vehicles by officials in their respective ministries, departments, and subordinate offices.