Dhaka: The Ministry of Public Administration has refuted claims made in a report by an online platform named “Star News,” which alleged that 300 secretaries were to be sent to Thailand to learn English. The ministry has labeled these claims as false and misleading.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the ministry released a protest statement clarifying the purpose of the programme. The initiative is not tailored for secretaries nor solely focused on English training. Instead, it is a comprehensive programme designed to enhance the capacity and diplomatic skills of mid-level government officials.
The training falls under the project titled “Strengthening Institutional Capacity of BIAM for Conducting Core Courses,” which encompasses a wide array of topics including governance, financial management, public procurement, negotiation skills, English proficiency, and policy formulation on e-governance and ICT. The ministry noted that several components of the courses, such as English proficiency, have already been completed locally, while certain overseas training sessions took place in Italy.
Additionally, the ministry mentioned that although the foreign component of the negotiation skills training was initially slated for the UK, alternative venues in Asia, including Thailand or Malaysia, are being considered to cut costs. The training initiative is set to be funded by Japan’s DRGACF fund, ensuring no financial burden on the Bangladesh government.
The ministry further clarified that the mention of “Pattaya” in the report was an intentional misrepresentation to frame the programme as tourism-oriented. It was also confirmed that the proposal has not yet been submitted to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval.