DCs want mobile courts to go on
PM asks DCs to help root out corruption
Special Correspondent
Divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners (DCs) have urged the government to take steps so that mobile court activities continue. This, they said, would help ease sufferings of the people.
They made the plea to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during inauguration of the three-day conference of DCs at the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) yesterday (Tuesday).
During the open discussion, the field officials requested that risk allowance be provided to executive magistrates conducting mobile courts.
They also urged the authorities to provide source money to field officials, similar to that given to law enforcement and intelligence agencies, to gather information on proper execution of development work.
During the open discussion with the Premier, the divisional commissioners said their post should be upgraded from Grade-3 to Grade-1, similar to the status of a general officer of commanding (GOC) of the Bangladesh Army and district judge, to speed up development work.
But the Prime Minister did not make any comment about the proposals, some DCs told this correspondent on condition of anonymity.
In her speech to DCs, the premier stressed the importance of stamping out corruption from the country, and laid out a 23-point guideline for the Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to ensure peoples welfare and directed them to be more active in implementing development programmes, adds UNB.
Youll have to work together with public representatives in establishing good governance at the grassroots, strengthen the rural economy further and develop the infrastructures in villages, implement SDGs and face natural disasters, she said.
Sheikh Hasina asked the public servants to take a strong stance against corruption to root out this menace from society at any cost to deliver the benefits of the countrys development to all. Well have to eliminate corruption at any cost. Well have to create public awareness and take a strong stance against the menace.
Hasina said the mass people will not get the benefits of any development project if there is any corruption in it.
Terming the DCs the representatives of the government at the district level, she asked them to accomplish the responsibilities with the mentality of serving people and protecting their interests by standing firm on the path of truth and justice.
The Prime Minister said the DCs will have to ensure that service receivers are not harassed in any way and remain tough against the food adulteration, and directed them to know the details about local problems and prospects and inform the Central Administration timely as the development plans are prepared on the basis of their reports and information.
Praising the initiatives of a number of district administrations and police for making their districts free from begging, Hasina assured them of providing assistance from her relief fund to make their drive even more successful.
She also urged them to come up with more such innovative ideas for the benefits and welfare of the countrys common people.
Present at the programme, the disaster management and relief minister, Mufazzal Hossain
Chowdhury Maya, alerted deputy commissioners against the rise in the water level of rivers in central and lower regions. He asked them to be ready for any eventuality.
We asked the field officials to hold a meeting of the district disaster management committee to prepare for all emergency situations, he told reporters during the working session of the disaster management ministry on the first day of the three-day DC conference held at the secretariat yesterday.
He said he also asked the DCs to plant palm trees in their respective districts as a safeguard against lightning. The rainy season is the right time to plant palm trees, he added.
The DCs put forward a number of proposals at the session. Maya assured the field officials that all support would be provided if there was an emergency situation.
At another session with the DCs, the state minister for labour, Mujibul Haque Chunnu, told reporters that they are preparing a list of child labours to build a child labour-free Bangladesh by 2021. At another session, finance minister AMA Muhith asked the DCs to send proposals of district budget to the Finance Division to get the required funds.
We also asked the DCs to increase revenue collection in the districts, he told reporters after a meeting with the DCs. The finance minister said they have advised the public administration ministry and the Cabinet Division to take up a project in this regard, and the finance ministry will support it.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the conference at her office, and a session was held at the Prime Ministers Office (PMO). Principal secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury was in the chair. During the session, the DCs placed various proposals before the principal secretary.
On the first day of the conference, the PMO, disaster management and relief ministry, power, energy and mineral resources ministry, labour ministry, Finance Division, planning ministry, Economic Relations Division, Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division, primary education ministry, education ministry, works ministry, information ministry, cultural affairs ministry and the sports and youth ministry briefed the DCs. The conference will end on July 27.
