Ministry Excursions: Justifying the Presence of Government Representatives in CAAB Delegations
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) is sending an accounts officer, Md Shahabuddin Howlader, from the civil aviation ministry to a high-profile aviation event in Sri Lanka. This decision comes amidst ongoing discussions about the role of ministry officials in CAAB delegations.
Historically, the CAAB has included ministry officials in delegations when there was room for four or five participants. This practice was aimed at speeding up the process of obtaining Government Orders (GOs) for such visits. However, delays in processing GO requests can cause training opportunities to be missed, as the CAAB official overseeing the relevant files could have been nominated instead.
The accounts officer's inclusion in the delegation comes amidst backlash over a joint secretary's inclusion in a recent Japan tour with CAAB officials. Anup Kumar, the joint secretary who was transferred from the civil aviation ministry on 6 August, defended his inclusion in the Japan tour, stating that he was the most competent official to attend the program.
The event in question is the EU-South Asia Aviation Partnership Project Launch Workshop and SARI (South Asian Regional Initiative) Steering Committee Meeting in Negombo, Sri Lanka from 11 to 14 August. The project aims to develop the EU's partnership with South Asia, enhance safety, and improve environmental protection and climate change action in the field of civil aviation.
The inclusion of an Accounts Officer from the Bangladesh Civil Aviation Ministry in such aviation-related events likely reflects the multidisciplinary nature of such gatherings, where financial oversight and budget management are integral to aviation projects, collaborations, or joint initiatives. Including officials responsible for accounting ensures transparency, proper fund management, and effective coordination between countries' aviation authorities.
The terms and conditions of the visit suggest that the delegation will be considered on duty during the period of their visit, will draw their usual pay and allowances in local currency, and all expenses related to their visit will be borne by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and South Asian Regional Initiative (SARI).
While the CAAB initially recommended a relevant technical officer to attend the Sri Lanka event, the civil aviation ministry included the accounts officer instead. This practice of including ministry officials, regardless of their relevance to the visit, has been criticised by some CAAB officials as a waste of time and resources.
The civil aviation ministry's Secretary Nasreen stated that the government does not bear any expenses for delegation visits, as the organisers cover all costs, and they do not send anyone if there is no relevance. The CAAB official who oversees the relevant files could have been nominated for the visit to Sri Lanka instead of the accounts officer, according to a CAAB official.
The CAAB official explained that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requires knowledge of the powers of the CAAB chairman, including the ability to appoint staff and send them for foreign training if necessary. This requirement underscores the importance of having a broad range of officials in CAAB delegations to address both regulatory and financial aspects of cooperation, which are critical for successful outcomes in regional aviation events and development programs.
Such inclusions tend to broaden the scope and capability of delegations like those from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), allowing them to address both regulatory and financial aspects of cooperation, which are critical for successful outcomes in regional aviation events and development programs. This multidisciplinary delegation makeup helps in thorough policy-making and implementation, facilitating stronger bilateral or multilateral ties within regional aviation frameworks.
- The decision to include an accounts officer in the CAAB delegation for the EU-South Asia Aviation Partnership Project Launch Workshop and SARI Steering Committee Meeting in Sri Lanka suggests a need for financial oversight and budget management in aviation projects, collaborations, or joint initiatives.
- The inclusion of ministry officials in CAAB delegations, such as the accounts officer in the upcoming aviation event in Sri Lanka, can broaden the scope and capability of the delegation, enabling them to address both regulatory and financial aspects of cooperation, essential for successful outcomes in regional aviation events and development programs.
