Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Tuesday dismissed speculation about foreign travel, saying he has surrendered his diplomatic passport and has no intention of leaving the country, as Bangladesh enters the most intense phase of campaigning ahead of the February 12 national election.
“I have surrendered my passport. I am not going anywhere,” Salehuddin told reporters waiting outside his office. “Nothing is very urgent. I usually do not attend meetings unless they are urgent. Not only me — many have surrendered. We had to surrender, so we did.”
He said his wife had also handed in her diplomatic passport and had no plans to travel abroad. “Do I work alone?” he remarked. “She rarely travels. She has surrendered hers too. Now we will have to apply for ordinary passports. I will move around with a general passport like everyone else.”
The comments came as several advisers have reportedly returned their diplomatic passports amid heightened political scrutiny in the run-up to the polls.
The 77-year-old veteran economist, who previously served as the ninth governor of Bangladesh Bank, also strongly endorsed the National Pay Commission report, calling it “very good”. The commission has proposed more than doubling the basic pay of government employees.
Salehuddin said the interim government would form a committee to review the recommendations and determine how the increases could be implemented. “Funds will be allocated in phases through the budget,” he said, adding that the report would be backed with the necessary financial resources. “I hope it will be implemented successfully.”
Asked why a gazette notification had not yet been issued, he said implementation details needed to be settled first. “You must clearly decide how much will go to which sector. That is why a committee is being formed,” he explained.
On election financing, Salehuddin said the Election Commission had received funds for law and order, returning officers and election management, but not for campaign activities.
Addressing questions about visas, he said there had never been any difficulty for him. “I have a green passport,” he said, brushing aside speculation.
However, the adviser declined to comment on reports that a government team would travel to Washington DC three days before the election.
“I will not answer this question,” he said curtly. When pressed on whether any agreement with the United States could bind the next government, he replied: “I don’t know about any agreement. I am not involved with America, so there is no point asking me.” On administrative reforms, Salehuddin said decisions would be taken within the current government. “I now have a blank organogram. I don’t need to go to the Chief Adviser. The Ministry of Public Administration and the Finance Ministry will decide.”
He declined to comment on whether senior bureaucrats were obstructing reforms, but warned that failure to act would undermine revenue policy. “If this is not done, there will be no improvement in revenue collection,” he said.
Responding to monitoring by Transparency International Bangladesh, the adviser added pointedly: “TIB does not see everything.”
