Budget revision meetings begin from January 12

The Finance Division will hold a series of meetings on the revision of the budget from January 12, and has asked the ministries and divisions to submit details of their sector-wise expenditure.

It has asked all ministries and divisions to submit details on the number of vehicles and their consumption of fuel and lubricants.

It also asked them to submit verified up-to-date receipts and verified up-to-date expenditures, and documents regarding payment of utility bills including power, gas and water, and update on the land development tax under a set of directives issued on January 3.

The ministries and divisions have been asked to submit their table of organisation and equipment (TO&E) and the number of officers and employees seeking post-retirement leave.

An additional secretary will chair the meetings and the first meeting will be held with a dozen of ministries and divisions including the Bridges Division, the Armed Forces Division, the jute and textiles ministry, and the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat and the last meeting with be held on January 24 with the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) and project directors of various development schemes.

The meetings will take place virtually, said a circular signed by Mohammad Anisuzzman, deputy secretary of the division. According to the officials of the Finance Division, the operating budget projected at Tk 4,18,447 crore for the current financial year of 2022-23 would be reduced following a series of austerity steps. Enforced since July 20, the austerity steps include reducing expenses for recreation, travel and other segments by 50 per cent, power use by 25 per cent in all public offices and slashing 20 per cent of the allocation for fuel oil for public vehicles in the wake of energy crunch affecting economic activities throughout the country.