The government of Bangladesh has implemented a new directive requiring all public employees to submit annual asset statements by November 30, 2024, marking a shift from the previous five-year interval. Failure to comply, provide accurate information, or address discrepancies will result in disciplinary actions under the Government Employees (Conduct) Rules of 1979. The initiative follows a 16-year hiatus since the last asset declarations were submitted in 2008. Starting from 2025, the annual deadline will be December 31. The asset forms must include detailed personal and financial information, and while the data will be collected, it will remain confidential and exempt from the Right to Information Act. Concerns have been raised about the feasibility of verifying the vast amount of data from approximately 1.5 million employees, especially given past instances of corruption where assets were concealed under relatives’ names. Although the government plans to implement online storage for asset data and automatic alerts for unusual asset growth, critics highlight that effective verification processes are still lacking. Non-compliance could lead to severe penalties, including demotion or dismissal.
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