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A top official suggested Thursday the authorities stop building new government offices and digitalise public services instead.
Secretaries also suggested the ministries and agencies monitor feasibility and technical studies carefully before getting approval for development projects, which can check misuse of public funds.
The suggestions came at a pre-budget meeting with secretaries, presided over by finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.
Comptroller and auditor general (CAG) of Bangladesh Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury, principal secretary to the Prime Minister Najibor Rahman, finance secretary Abdur Rouf Talukder and secretaries of different ministries attended the meeting.
The CAG said in recent days, the government agencies seem to be in a race to build office spending thousands of crores of public money.
"Is it for inviting service seekers to enjoy the air coolers and well-furnished offices? I think the government should invest for digitalising its services, which will reduce the unnecessary spending and save the working hours of the people," he said.
The CAG also laid emphasis on monitoring the feasibility study and technical studies strictly for all projects before their approval, which will put a lid on cost and time overruns.
Planning secretary Md Nurul Amin requested the finance ministry not to allocate funds for purchasing vehicles for the project directors as the government has already given car facilities to officials from the ranks of deputy secretaries and above.
Financial institutions division secretary Md Ashadul Islam suggested the finance minister allocate special funds for the fresh young graduates so that they could start a business just after completing their education.
Local government division secretary SM Ghulam Farooque said it is important to keep a vigil on how village roads are constructed.
Implementation monitoring and evaluation division (IMED) secretary Abul Mansur Md Faizullah requested the finance minister to take necessary steps so that projects cannot be revised more than once.
Civil aviation and tourism secretary Md Mohibul Haque expressed his reservation about the Public Private Partnership Authority, saying this government body does not coordinate with peers properly for the development work.
Finance minister AHM Hustafa Kamal at the meeting said it is unrealistic to prepare the district budget as they have no income.
He said he would prepare a "simple and readable" national budget where one can get all necessary things in 15-20 pages.
Mr Kamal said he will not exclude any persons from the facilities of the budget; even the extreme poor will get adequate facilities.
Besides, the finance minister said this time the government will not prepare the budget putting pressure on the National Board of Revenue or any other agencies for income.
Instead, the agencies will propose their earnings target considering their own capacity, he added.