Transparency, accountability in spending public money

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday stressed the need to ensure transparency and accountability in public spending and the implementation of government projects.

He said public funds are used to serve people, and it must be ensured that the money is spent properly and the objectives of government projects are achieved, according to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office.

The prime minister also emphasised the need to conduct performance audits alongside compliance audits to assess whether public funds are being used effectively.

He made the remarks when Bangladesh’s Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Md Nurul Islam presented 38 compliance and performance audit reports to him.

The audit reports cover 17 ministries and divisions, as well as various directorates, offices, institutions, and projects under them.

During the presentation, the CAG apprised the prime minister of the issues highlighted in the reports and the reform measures taken by the audit and accounts department.

Officials concerned said compliance audits examine whether financial rules and procedures are followed in government offices, agencies, and projects.

Performance audits, on the other hand, assess whether the objectives of government projects and activities have been achieved and whether public funds have been used effectively.