A decision will be taken soon about reducing office hours or introducing virtual office to save electricity, said State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain on Monday. Also read: 2-hour area-based load shedding across country from Tuesday “Government is mulling reducing office hour and introducing work from home in the backdrop of power crisis. The decision will be finalised within a week. We’ll take decision considering the public sufferings,” he told reporters at the Secretariat. A discussion is going on about it and suggestions came about reducing office hours from 9 am to 3 pm or 4 pm, he said adding “But the decision has not been finalised yet.” Also read: PM seeks people’s support to cut power subsidy amid hard times

A total of 392,117 posts are now vacant under different ministries, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said Thursday. He made the disclosure while replying to a query from Awami League lawmaker Benjir Ahmed at the parliament. Replying to another question from ruling party lawmaker Ali Azam, the state minister said the public administration ministry recommended the recruitment of 41,566 candidates for cadre posts through Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations from 2010. Also Read: Fatima made new Finance Secretary, Sharifa ERD secretary During this time, 5,143 candidates were recommended for non-cadre first-class posts and 7,161 for second-class posts (10th -12th grades), said Farhad.

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain on Tuesday said the government has no plan to raise the age limit for entering government job.The state minister said this while replying to a tabled question from ruling Awami League MP Habibe Millat ( Sirajganj-2).Explaining the much talked about issue, the minister said that raising the age limit for entering services would make the recruitment test more competitive and create frustration among those below 30 years of age.Farhad said in the past there was huge session jams in various educational institutions including universities but now it can be said that there is no significant session jam. Also read: Entering govt jobs: Farhad says no chance to relax age limit“As a result, students usually get SSC degree in 16 years, HSC in 18 years, and post graduate degree in 23/24 years. The maximum age limit for general candidates to enter the job is 30 years, so even after obtaining a master's degree, they have at least 6/7 years to apply for the job,” the state minister said.In addition, Farhad said that if a candidate within 30 years of age applies for the job, even if it takes 1/2 years to complete the recruitment process, it is not counted.He said the number of vacancies has come down naturally as the retirement age has been raised from 57 to 59 recently. Also read: Job seekers block city roads demanding extension of age limit for govt job“In this context, if the age limit for entry into the job is increased, the number of job seekers for different positions will increase at a huge rate. This can lead to more competition in recruitment. This can lead to frustration among candidates under the age of 30, even if those who are above 30 years of age will get the opportunity to apply for getting job,” the state minister also said.

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain on Monday said that further decision on extending the ongoing restriction on public movement and other activities will be taken after observing the Covid-19 situation for a week. He was talking to reporters at Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday. Replying to a question about extending the restriction on public movement, Farhad said, “Further decision for imposing restriction on public movement will be taken after considering the Covid situation as people infected with the new variant of Covid-19, Omicron, recover in a short period of time and the recovery rate is also good.” “More than 85% people, infected with Covid-19, are taking treatment at their respective homes and we definitely will observe the Covid situation for one week to issue next directives,” he said. READ: Lockdown will return if Covid restrictions violated: Health Minister Following the impact of Omicron, the country is now experiencing the third wave of Covid and the infection rate is increasing day by day, he said adding “Our main objective is to ensure use of masks by all as the experts have hinted that the Covid infection rate is likely to increase in mid-February.” He also urged all to remain aware of it and to tackle the third wave of Covid following health guidelines. Asking about flouting of health guidelines on public transport, he said “All must abide by the directives of the government for their own good.” He also urged those involved in public transport sector to provide their assistance by following the directives and rules of the government. Farhad also asked to conduct mobile court drives to force people to follow health guidelines. “Prior notice will be given before conducting mobile court drives.” In light of the latest surge in Covid-19 cases across the country, the government on January 21 imposed some restrictions on the overall activities and movement of people in the country. The Cabinet Division issued a notification in this regard. READ: Covid restrictions maybe to stop BNP rallies: Rizvi According to the notice, all the schools, colleges and universities of the country will remain closed from January 21 to February 6. The government has also prohibited the gathering of 100 people for any political, social or religious programmes. Those who will attend such programmes will need to have Covid-19 vaccine certificates and RT-PCR test conducted, says the notification. It said all the government, non-government offices and factories have been asked to make sure that all the staff and officers carrying Covid-19 vaccine cards. The notification asked all to wear masks and maintain health rules at public places like markets, shopping malls, mosques, bus stands, launch terminals, railway stations. The local administration and law enforcement agencies have been instructed to monitor and ensure compliance.

The public-private partnerships (PPPs) are being recognised as a prospective source for financing climate actions in Bangladesh, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said Tuesday. "Mobilising PPPs for addressing 'loss and damage' of climate change in Bangladesh offers a promising way forward," he said. Farhad was addressing a COP26 side event titled "Public private partnership approach to climate finance in Bangladesh" at Bangladesh Pavilion in Scotland's Glasgow. As an early adopter and advocate of climate change adaptation policy, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina continues to be a great example as world leaders seek to take action on climate change as part of the Sustainable Development Goals, the state minister said. READ: Entering govt jobs: Farhad says no chance to relax age limit Sheikh Hasina put forward a five-point proposal at the V20 Climate Vulnerable Finance Summit as the President of Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), calling upon the developed countries to reduce their carbon emissions drastically. Farhad said the CVF has also initiated a new programme "Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan – Decade 2030" to move from climate vulnerability to climate resilience and turn climate resilience into climate prosperity. The Bangladesh government is focusing on the development of solar and wind power to boost renewable energy generation in the country according to the key strategic focus of Perspective Plan 2041, he said. READ: Rules don’t permit to address govt officials as sir or madam: Farhad "We are preparing the National Adaptation Plan and have finalised the interim nationally determined contributions (NDC)," the state minister added. He said the NDC calls for undertaking a number of mitigation actions that will help limit the country's greenhouse gas emissions, playing a key role in realising its shift towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy.

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain on Tuesday said the Rules of Business does not allow addressing the government officials as sir or madam. “There is no directive to address the government officials as sir or madam as it is against the Rules of Business. The Father of the Nation’s directive to government officials had been to become the service provider of people,” he said.  Farhad said this while speaking at a dialogue organised by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF)  held at the Secretariat. “Your (government officials) attitude is most important to the people. If you get angry or snub someone then it will be considered as corruption. Misbehaviour is tantamount to corruption. We’ll not allow it as your (government officials) behaviour is the behaviour of the government,” said Farhad. Also read: Take preparations for future challenges: Farhad Hossain

The government at the moment is not considering general holidays like last year to tackle the transmission of coronavirus, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said Monday. “There has neither been any such decision nor discussion [on the issue],” he told reporters at the Secretariat, replying to a question. Also read:Coronavirus: Govt not extending general holidays Bangladesh on Monday recorded its highest-ever daily coronavirus infection (5,181) and 45 deaths. The infection rate has been upward for a number of days now. The government has issued 18 directives to curb the transmission. “We’ll follow these directives for two weeks and see how things turn out. We’ll issue further directives later,” he said. Also read:General holidays only in coronavirus 'Red Zones': State Minister State Minister Hossain said it is possible to prevent Covid-19 if everyone properly follows the health guidelines – wearing masks, maintaining physical distance and washing hands. “Many people haven’t been infected as they’re careful. It’s proven that we can control the coronavirus [situation] if we remain alert,” he said.

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain on Saturday suggested that Bangladesh should take proper preparations to face future challenges as the world is rapidly changing with time.

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain on Tuesday emphasised on ensuring safe food to improve the living standards of the people of the country and build a prosperous nation.

The government is extending the ongoing general holidays until May 30 to curb the transmission of coronavirus as it continues to claim more lives and infect a larger number of people every day across Bangladesh.