Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali has opined that reforms in the accounting system are necessary to meet the requirments of international standards and development partners.
He expressed this opinion in the speech as the chief guest at a discussion meeting organized by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) office of Bangladesh on Saturday (May 11).
The Minister of Finance said, in line with the ever-changing global management, economic challenges and the excellence of information technology, in addition to the conventional compliance and financial audits of international standards, performance audits, IT audits and environmental and climate change audit reports must be prepared.
He said that the accounting system needs to be reformed to meet international standards and the requirements of development partners. A modern structure of accounts has already been prepared in collaboration with the Audit and Accounts Department. He expressed hope that the transparency of the financial sector will be ensured through the adoption of updated financial utilization accounts.
Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali said, if the audit activities are more effective, efficient and effective use of the government's financial resources will be ensured. He said that the Ministry of Finance will provide full cooperation to increase the service capacity of CAG to complete quality and real time audit in accordance with the time.
He said that the audit management and monitoring software has been launched by bringing the audit management to the digital platform. Now emphasis should be placed on proper implementation by ensuring its excellence with time. Online management has already been introduced replacing the old method of communication between the auditor and the audit firm.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said that more than four crore audit reports have been settled. More than Tk. 3 thousand crore have been collected through this. However, it is a matter of concern that around 235 audit reports have been tabled in Parliament but not discussed.
Finance Division Secretary Dr Md Khayeruzzaman Majumdar said, we have done automation. Now pensioners are getting pension money sitting at home. He commented that CAG is playing a role in being frugal in our various expenses.
CAG Nurul Islam said, now there is no need to go to the bank to get pension money. Ople are getting at home. We have introduced one stop service. He mentioned that efficient budget management has been introduced.
It was informed at the event that in 5 years of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad (2019 to 2023), a total of 81 audit reports were presented to the JS through the President. In the last 5 years, 814 audit objections were discussed in the Standing Committee on Public Accounts of the 11th JS. During this time, 17 Audit Departments have disposed of lakhs of audit objections as a result of the audit institute taking action as per the recommendations of the audit.
It was also informed that 2 lakh 50 thousand 465 people have received pension e-services through the One Stop Service Center till May 1 in the financial year 2023-24. 20 lakh 48 thousand 512 people have taken GPF e-service. And 4 thousand 91 complaints have been submitted.
This discussion meeting was organized at the CAG office in Dhaka on the occasion of the 51st founding anniversary of the CAG office and three days of special service activities across the country. Special service activities will continue tomorrow from May 12 to May 14.
Presided over by Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh Md. Nurul Islam it was attended by President of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Secretary of the Finance Division Dr. Md. Khairuzzaman Majumdar as special guests.