Stricter attendance rules for civil servants imposed

The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has issued a strict directive mandating all government employees in Bangladesh to remain in their offices until the official end of working hours, 5:00 PM. 

The new regulations are aimed at curbing absenteeism and improving administrative discipline.

The directive, issued on June 23, requires employees to seek prior permission from their divisional head for any official or emergency departure during working hours. They must also log their departure in the office register, as outlined in the Government Employees (Regular Attendance) Rules, 2019.

According to the notice, no civil servant may be absent, leave early, or arrive late without formal approval. All employees must report to their offices by 9:00 AM on working days. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary actions under both the 2019 Attendance Rules and the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018.

The directive also spells out potential penalties. These include salary deductions, loss of leave entitlements, and stricter measures for repeat offenses. Specifically, habitual tardiness may lead to a deduction equal to seven days’ basic pay.

The government said the measures are intended to reinforce accountability and efficiency in public service delivery.