The government aims to digitise its financial management systems to provide timely and hassle-free services to the policy-makers and the citizens.
All government financial services will be automated in a year and a half under a financial management reform project, Deepening Medium Term Budget Framework (DMTBF).
Through DMTBF, the government will introduce a
number of web-based services such as e-pension, e-pro-vident fund, e-payment and e-chalan (invoice).
"We want to improve citizen services by digitising the processes of receipts and payments of the government,” said Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury, a director of the project.
Chowdhury spoke at a workshop on "Financial management reforms: quality and timeliness accounts" at the auditorium of Public Works department in the capital yesterday.
The Finance Division in association with the Comptroller General of Accounts organised the event to inform the government's plan on automation in financial services.
Around 200 upazila to district level accountants in Dhaka division took part in the daylong event.
Chowdhury said the government will launch 'e-payment system' in the next month to make payments to its employees, pensioners and suppliers through an electronic fund transfer (EFT) system.
“On a trial basis, we have already started the electronic fund transfer system in three government entities: Prime Minister's Office, finance ministry and cabinet division," said Md Shah Alam, divisional controller of accounts for Dhaka.
Alam said the divisional office of accounts distributed EFT sign-up forms to the three entities.
"It will ensure timely payment of salaries, allowances and other benefits to the government employees efficiently."
With the e-challan system, people can deposit invoice by electronic means and verify its authenticity online.
To run the EFT system smoothly, the government will also set up an integrated database and store all information of its employees in it.
“We want to create an employee database as it will help the government to get accurate and timely information,” said Md Shahad Chowdhury, controller general of accounts.
"As a result, the policymakers will be able to make appropriate financial decisions based on the system's data," he said, adding that the database will also help the government in debt management.
At the event, Ranjit Kumar Chakraborty, additional secretary of the finance division, said public accounts management is very important for the government and the policymakers.
He urged the accountants: “You should work with a sense of pride as you are serving the country through producing accurate and timely information to the policymakers.”
Chakraborty said the government is working to simplify the accounting procedure through automation.
"You should not fear of sophistication. Welcome the change as it will help to minimise your workload.”