The move came after an unscheduled debate among four senior ministers following a legislator's dissatisfaction at the absence of secretaries in parliament gallery.

Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Moudud Ahmed, Communications Minister Nazmul Huda and Shipping Minister Akbar Hossain participated in the debate.

The ministers were divided into two groups over the issue with some arguing that the House should give a special instruction to the top civil

servants, while others said they were bound to attend parliament.

"I hope the secretaries concerned will be present," Speaker Jamir Uddin Sircar said in his observation.

Sircar said he was at the helm of six ministries in the past when the secretaries would be present in the gallery.

Moudud, who first argued that the Jatiya Sangsad secretariat should issue a special instruction to the secretaries, came around to say that he would direct the cabinet secretary to convey the decision to other secretaries.

Huda disagreed with the first argument of the law minister, saying: "The secretaries are bound to be present at the Jatiya Sangsad. There is no need to issue special instructions."

Saifur also echoed the voice of the communications minister.

The shipping minister wondered how the secretaries, who would sit in the gallery far from the ministers on the floor, would assist the ministers in parliamentary deliberations.

Abdul Alim, a lawmaker of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the chairman of the public undertakings committee, raised the issue on a point of order and demanded a ruling from the speaker.

He asked the speaker to take legal action if any secretary did not obey the direction.