No visitors allowed at Secretariat before noon

No visitors will be allowed to enter the Bangladesh Secretariat before 12:00pm under nine government decisions aimed at tightening security, regulating vehicle movement and strengthening control over visitor access.

The decisions were taken at a high-level meeting on Secretariat security held on October 4. The meeting minutes, chaired by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani, outlined measures to improve access control, parking management and building security.

Police will regularly monitor compliance with vehicle entry, movement and parking rules inside the Secretariat. Special parking stickers will be introduced, and vehicles without authorised stickers will not be allowed to park or remain within the premises.

Separate access control systems will be installed at Building No. 1 and other buildings to verify and regulate the entry of authorised officials, employees and other individuals. The Ministry of Housing and Public Works will take the necessary steps to introduce the systems.

No official, employee or unauthorised person will be allowed to remain inside the Secretariat overnight without prior approval from the relevant authorities.

A separate registration system will also be introduced for foreign visitors, recording their identities, purpose of visit, the officials or offices they intend to meet, and their entry and exit details.

The government has also set limits on the number of visitor passes that senior officials may issue. Ministers, state ministers, deputy ministers, advisers and special assistants will be allowed to issue up to 10 passes each. The Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary and other senior secretaries and secretaries may issue up to five each, additional secretaries up to three, and joint secretaries up to two.

Permanent passes issued to officials and employees will automatically become invalid seven days after their transfer orders take effect.

Members of parliament entering the Secretariat in their private vehicles will be allowed to bring only their personal officers and drivers. Their identities and authorisations must be verified before entry.

Officials of the Cabinet Division said the measures were intended to strengthen access control, improve vehicle management and ensure closer monitoring of visitors.