President M Abdul Hamid on Sunday asked the authorities concerned to ensure transparency in government expenditures for the sake of public interest. The president made the call when Auditor General and Comptroller Muslim Chowudhury presented the annual audit to him at Bangabhaban in the evening. During the meeting, the CAG briefed the president on various aspects of the report. "Audit is very important to ensure transparency and accountability in government expenditures,"President Hamid said. Also read: President urges PSC to accelerate recruitment for govt posts The president also directed the CAG to intensify the audit activities to settle the unresolved audit objections on time. Later, a delegation led by the Chairman of the Bangladesh Accreditation Council Prof. Dr. Mezbah Uddin Ahmed presented the first annual report of the Council to President Hamid. The chairman of the Accreditation Council briefed the president on various aspects of the report and its overall functions. Hamid directed the Accreditation Council to play its role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the overall activities including education and research in the universities. The president also suggested bringing the activities of the university under monitoring to ensure the quality of higher education. Also read: President Hamid receives 10 names for EC proposed by search committee Secretary to the President's Office Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, and Press Secretary Joynal Abedin were present on the occasion.

The 16th session (also the first session of 2022 and known as winter session) of the 11th Parliament will begin at 4pm on Sunday. As per the provisions of the constitution, President M Abdul Hamid will address the first session of 2022. The President, also the head of the state, convened the session exercising the power bestowed upon him as per the Clause (1) of Article 72 of the Constitution. READ: Parliamentary body visits Cox’s Bazar Airport project  All health protocols will be maintained during the session, according to the Parliament secretariat. The 15th session was prorogued on November 28.   READ: PM condoles death of the president of European Parliament