Field admin wants ‘source money’

For the first time, bureaucrats working at the field level with ranks of divisional commissioner and deputy commissioner (DC) are asking for "source money", similar to that of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, to gather information on proper execution of development work.
Some divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners sent letters to the Cabinet secretary recently, requesting that field officers like divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners be provided with "source money", Cabinet Division sources said.
According to the sources, during a regular meeting with the Cabinet secretary on February 29, divisional commissioners suggested that they be provided with "source money" for gathering authentic information on development work and other purposes.
The Cabinet secretary assured the field administrators that steps would taken by holding an inter-ministerial meeting on March 30, the sources said.
A senior official of the Cabinet Division told The Independent, on condition of anonymity, that the government often seeks information from divisional commissioners and DCs. They have to provide all the information to the government.
“Field-level officials have to get information from law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Sometimes, these agencies do not provide the required information or even give wrong information. Hence, the government does not get proper information,” the official said.
“If they (DCs and divisional commissioners) have sources, they could sent correct information to the government. Hence, they need to maintain sources in their respective offices,” the official said.
The deputy commissioner (DC) of Rangamati, Mohammad Manzarul Mannan, told The Independent that they could provide correct information on development work and other matters to the government if they have sources.
“As representatives of the central government, the higher authorities often want different types of information— political, development and law and order—for which we have to depend on different agencies. Sometimes we do not get the information. We will maintain our sources and channel of information by arranging ‘source funds’ at our office,” the DC said.
When contacted, senior secretary of the Finance Division, Hedayet Ullah Al Mamun, declined to comment on the issue. “I will attend the meeting at the Cabinet Division on March 30 and do what is decided at the meeting,” he said.
At present, law enforcement and intelligence agencies get "source money" from the government.

Field admin wants source money

For the first time, bureaucrats working at the field level with ranks of divisional commissioner and deputy commissioner (DC) are asking for source money, similar to that of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, to gather information on proper execution of development work. Some divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners sent letters to the Cabinet secretary recently, requesting that field officers like divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners be provided with source money, Cabinet Division sources said. According to the sources, during a regular meeting with the Cabinet secretary on February 29, divisional commissioners suggested that they be provided with source money for gathering authentic information on development work and other purposes. The Cabinet secretary assured the field administrators that steps would taken by holding an inter-ministerial meeting on March 30, the sources said. A senior official of the Cabinet Division told The Independent, on condition of anonymity, that the government often seeks information from divisional commissioners and DCs. They have to provide all the information to the government. Field-level officials have to get information from law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Sometimes, these agencies do not provide the required information or even give wrong information. Hence, the government does not get proper information, the official said. If they (DCs and divisional commissioners) have sources, they could sent correct information to the government. Hence, they need to maintain sources in their respective offices, the official said. The deputy commissioner (DC) of Rangamati, Mohammad Manzarul Mannan, told The Independent that they could provide correct information on development work and other matters to the government if they have sources. As representatives of the central government, the higher authorities often want different types of information political, development and law and orderfor which we have to depend on different agencies. Sometimes we do not get the information. We will maintain our sources and channel of information by arranging source funds at our office, the DC said. When contacted, senior secretary of the Finance Division, Hedayet Ullah Al Mamun, declined to comment on the issue. I will attend the meeting at the Cabinet Division on March 30 and do what is decided at the meeting, he said. At present, law enforcement and intelligence agencies get source money from the government.