Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Jan 17, 2025 (BSS) - Finance Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder
today said the newly established Internal Audit Unit will become fully
operational from next week.

"The Finance Division has established an independent Internal Audit Unit to
reduce financial risks and ensure proper management in government
institutions of Bangladesh. This initiative, recognizing the importance of
internal auditing, will become fully operational starting next week," he
said.

According to a release, the secretary said this while speaking as the chief
guest at a stakeholder consultation workshop titled "Internal Auditing
Journey in the Public Sector" at Manikganj.

Khairuzzaman said financial management is not solely the responsibility of
the Ministry of Finance, all government spending entities are involved in
this process.

As a result, the Ministry of Finance is piloting internal auditing in five
high-expenditure departments-- Directorate of Primary Education, Roads and
Highways Department, Public Works Department, Local Government Engineering
Department and Directorate General of Health Services, he added.

Dr Mozumder said this initiative is expected to have long-term impacts, with
plans underway to gradually expand it across other government entities.

Finance Division Additional Secretary Shirajun Noor Chowdhury presided over
it while Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education Dr Md Abdul
Hakim, Chief Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department Syed Moinul Hasan,
and Additional Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department Md. Shafiqul
Islam were present as special guests.

Additional Secretary (Budget-1) and National Program Director of the
Strengthening Public Financial Management Program to Enable Service
Delivery (SPFMS) Bilquis Jahan Rimi delivered the welcome address while
Additional Secretary of the Finance Division Munshi Abdul Ahad gave the
vote of thanks.

Sirajun Noor Chowdhury highlighted the critical role of internal audits in
establishing internal controls and ensuring transparency and accountability
in financial management.

Md. Shafiqul Islam noted the importance of digitizing the system while
enhancing the skills of users, particularly vendors.

Dr. Md. Abdul Hakim stressed the necessity of institutional capacity building
for the implementation of internal audits.

Presentations on various aspects of internal auditing were delivered during
the inaugural session by Finance Division Joint Secretary Mohammad Azad
Sallal, Joint Secretary and Programme Executive and Coordinator, SPFMS Md.
Rafiqul Islam and Finance Division Deputy Secretary Mohammad Shawkat Ullah.

The presentations emphasized the importance of establishing an independent
Internal Audit Unit (IAU) and creating a standardized organogram for the
reporting line. Additionally, recommendations were made to form internal
audit committees in ministries and divisions to address audit observations on
a priority basis in line with a risk-based internal audit manual.