Prime Minister orders not to travel abroad 'unnecessarily'

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed government officials not to travel abroad 'unnecessarily', said Planning Minister MA Mannan after finishing the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday, which was chaired by the PM.

Such an order of the head of government came amid the dollar crisis in the country due to the impact of the global economic crisis.

At the press conference followed by the meeting, Planning Minister said, “The Prime Minister has given a few messages."

Stating that the Prime Minister has given instructions to maintain austerity in public expenditure, Mannan said, "Expenditure will not be stopped, if the expenditure is stopped, the economy will be stopped. We must spend. But it can be done as much as needed."

"The Prime Minister said unnecessary, extravagant and luxurious spendings should be avoided."

The issue of foreign visits of ministers and bureaucrats was also discussed in the meeting.

“Then PM said, unnecessary travel abroad will be discouraged. Already it has been discouraged. More will be discouraged in future,” said the Planning Minister.