Quality education hampered for MPs
Allege deputy commissioners
Deputy commissioners (DCs) yesterday alleged that local MPs were interfering in the recruitment of teachers and other education-related matters, affecting the quality of education. The DCs also urged the education ministry to form a teacher service commission (TSC) to recruit qualified teachers for educational institutions. The allegation and the request were made on the first day of a three-day conference of DCs. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the conference at her office. In response to the allegation of the DCs, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said the government was planning to form a TSC to stop interference by local MPs in recruiting teachers. I told the DCs that the ministry has taken steps to ensure that only qualified teachers are recruited. But you (DCs) should monitor them properly to ensure the quality of education, he said. We have also asked the DCs to take necessary steps to stop coaching in schools, he added.
The education minister said the government has assured the DCs that necessary equipment would be distributed among the educational institutions to run multimedia classrooms. During the session of the education ministry, the DCs presented 16 points on educational issues. Among these points, the DCs said there was a dearth of teachers in schools and colleges. Conceding the point, the education minister said: We have recruited a number of headmasters in government schools, and the recruitment of a number of principals in government colleges is under process.
At another session with the finance ministry, finance minister AMA Muhith advised the DCs to open income tax offices in all districts and upazilas to step up income tax collections. After the session, the finance minister told reporters that the government initiative to open income tax offices in districts and upazilas will increase income tax collections and will help the government ensure that developmental works are carried out with its own funds.
The finance minister told the DCs that the branches of different commercial banks will inform them about disbursal of agricultural loans at their respective districts as the field officials can apprise them about the matter.
In the session of the finance ministry, Muhith informed the DCs that the banks distributed Tk 15,978.46 crore in agricultural loans to the farmers of the country till June this year. During the session of the home ministry, the DCs urged home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to take necessary steps to renovate or build new jails in the districts. The home minister said, We have taken steps to renovate most of the jails and also build a new jailhouse. The minister said the government has initiated steps to amend the existing Mobile Court Act to grant more powers to the executive magistrates with a view to conducting mobile courts in the country to stop adulteration of food and other malpractices.
The home minister said they have asked the DCs to hold regular meetings of the local law and order protection committee and anti-terrorism peace committees every month to control the law and order situation in the respective districts.
On the first day of the DCs conference, the Prime Ministers Office (PMO), primary education ministry, Liberation War affairs ministry, works ministry and the ICT ministry briefed the DCs.
UNB adds: Opening the three-day conference, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the DCs to discharge their lawful responsibilities to protect public interests rising above fear and allurement.
The main responsibility of DCs is to ensure the security of public life and property, and ensure their unhindered movements, she said.
Terming the deputy commissioners as the bridge between the field-level administration and the central administration, the Prime Minister said they could perform their duties best when they remain strict to the truth and justice.
She also asked them to deeply focus on issues like ensuring public services for common people without harassment, preventing women and child repression and trafficking, child marriage, eve-teasing and misuse of drugs, development of rural infrastructures, flourishing potential small and medium scale industries, helping flourish the ICT, working with public representatives at the grassroots level for building good governance, preventing dropout in educational institutions, ensuring agri-input supply, protecting the environment, rooting out militancy and terrorism, and preserving forests, rivers, lakes, and livestock. The prime minister instructed the DCs to adopt newer ways of work shedding the old mindset and thus help the country achieve its desired middle-income status by 2021.
Though the district administration was established during the colonial period, everything now has changed by the time, well have to run the country, develop and advance it as an independent country, this is our main focus, well have to step forward changing all the old perceptions, she said.
Hasina said the DCs must not confine themselves to their day-to-day routine works as they will have to think what new development programmes they could take for their respective districts so that those could contribute to the development of their areas. You (DCs) must look for newer ways, techniques and of course take good care of the development programmes, she said.
Hasina said her government main aim is to build a hunger- and poverty-free and happy and prosperous Bangladesh. To attain that goal you must come out of old mindset of being only government officials. Youll have to devote more to the service of the nation, she said.
Recalling the recent 92-day destructive politics of BNP-Jamaat nexus that left over 150 people dead, she said the government has been able to get rid of the situation due to the active role of the DCs across the country. Youll have to remain aware so that no one can indulge in such incidents again.
About human trafficking and drug smuggling, she said the government has identified some points across the country through where drugs are smuggled in. You must take proper steps to contain the drug smuggling, the Prime Minister told the DCs.
She mentioned that there are some problems in Coxs Bazar area where various incidents like drug smuggling and human trafficking are going on. Although weve taken measurers already, you need to take tougher steps to end the menace.
Referring to various allowances under governments social safety net programmes for poverty alleviation, Hasina asked the deputy commissioners to make it sure the really deserving people are getting the support. She also asked all the DCs to find out the landless and homeless people in their respective district and provide them houses under Ashrayan Project. Divisional Commissioner of Rangpur, Deputy Commissioners of Panchagarh, Kushtia and Narayanganj got Digital Service Award for their outstanding services in promoting digital services in their respective areas. State Minister for Public Administration Ismat Ara Sadiq, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong M Abdullah, DC of Satkhira Nazmul Hassan, DC of Habiganj Sabina Alam, and DC of Nilphamari Habibur Rahman also spoke on the inaugural session.
