Govt tightens Secretariat security

The government has tightened security at the Bangladesh Secretariat, making it mandatory for all officials and employees to keep their identification cards visibly displayed at all times while entering and staying inside the administrative headquarters.

The move comes amid Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's regular presence at the Secretariat and the daily movement of a large number of officials, employees and visitors. The directive aims to strengthen internal security, control access and maintain discipline by making it easier to identify authorised persons.

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued the directive on Tuesday (November 3) through its Secretariat Security Branch. A letter signed by Deputy Secretary Kazi Arifur Rahman was sent to all senior secretaries and secretaries of the ministries and divisions.

The letter said all concerned officials and employees must display their Secretariat entry cards in visible places to strengthen internal security, regulate access and maintain overall discipline.

It also noted that the Secretariat receives holders of both permanent and temporary entry cards, participants in various meetings and visitors entering through one-time passwords (OTPs). With the Prime Minister now working from the Secretariat regularly, displaying identification cards has become essential to ensuring internal security, it added.

The Home Affairs Ministry has requested all ministries and divisions to instruct their officials and employees to keep their ID cards visible throughout their stay at the Secretariat.

Under the new directive, merely carrying an entry card will no longer be sufficient; employees must ensure that it remains clearly visible. The measure is expected to facilitate the identification of people inside the Secretariat and help monitor authorised access.

Copies of the letter were also sent to the Cabinet Division, the Prime Minister's Office, senior officials of the Home Affairs Ministry and the Deputy Commissioner of Police responsible for Secretariat security.