PM Orders Review of Visitor Entry Rules at Secretariat

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has ordered a comprehensive overhaul of visitor entry regulations at the Bangladesh Secretariat. While inspecting several ministries recently, the head of government observed unusual crowds within the premises and instructed security chiefs to review existing protocols. Multiple senior officials from the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed the directive, noting that ensuring optimal working conditions and safety within the administrative hub is the primary objective.

The directive followed an unannounced visit on October 15, a day when visitor entry was officially restricted. After inspecting the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change inside Building-6, the Prime Minister exited to find an overwhelming presence of visitors. He promptly summoned the deputy secretary (security) of the home ministry alongside the secretariat's police deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner to demand an explanation regarding lapses in crowd management.

Senior security officials revealed that the government is actively evaluating whether to slash visiting hours to just two hours—from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM—down from the current 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM window. Additionally, limiting public visiting access to merely two specific days per week is under discussion. Officials are also considering a complete cancellation of temporary passes, many of which were traditionally handed out for political considerations or business lobbies.

Administrative analysts assert that uncontrolled foot traffic inside the Secretariat significantly impairs routine governance and compromises high-level state security. Over the years, the misuse of entry passes by lobbyists and contractors has remained a persistent concern. If these stringent new measures materialize, the core administrative machinery is expected to function with heightened confidentiality, discipline, and efficiency.