Deputy commissioners (DCs) expressed discontent at the end of the three-day DCs conference yesterday as the authorities refused to consider most of the 349 proposals they had placed before them.

But the field officials—divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners—were directed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to work independently, ignoring political influence.

“We tried to place our problems and recommendations before the authorities during the sessions with the ministries concerned for smooth functioning of the field administration and implementing the government’s plans. But most of the proposals were not considered,” a DC told The Independent after the conference.

"The authorities only assured us that some of the problems would be resolved," he said.

“It was just a routine annual conference. The DCs aired their grievances before the Prime Minister, ministers and secretaries of different ministries and divisions,” he added.

When contacted, Rajshahi divisional commissioner Md Nur-ur-Rahman told this correspondent that the proposals were considered for being tabled and a decision on them would be taken later. “The President, Prime Minister, minis

ters and  secretaries of the ministries and divisions concerned gave us instructions. Those will be implemented,” he said.

Dhaka division DC Md Helaluddin Ahmed said that he had proposed the upgrading of the post of divisional commissioners to Grade-1 and the post of DCs to Grade-3. “The minister and the senior secretary of the public administration ministry told us that they would examine the proposal,” he added.

Md Helaluddin Ahmed, the acting secretary of the Parliament Secretariat, said they had been given a 23-point directive by the Prime Minister.  “After receiving the directives, our field officials will work independently in their areas. They will not be influenced by any political motivation,” he added.

When contacted, Dhiraj Kumar Nath, former administration adviser to a caretaker government, said that DCs were the main representatives of the government for implementing policies on the field. “During the annual DCs' conference, a link is established between these field officials and the government,” he added.

On the third day of the conference, sessions with the home, land, shipping, law, social welfare, religious affairs, fisheries and livestock affairs, posts and telecommunications, information and communications technology and liberation war affairs ministries were held.

At a session with the law ministry, law minister Anisul Huq said that they had agreed in principle to independent public prosecution. “We'll introduce independent public prosecution in phases. We're planning to give the responsibility of recruiting (public prosecutors) to the Bangladesh Judicial Service Commission,” he added.

He said that the government was considering increasing the salary and allowances of general prosecutors (GP), assistant public prosecutors (APP) and assistant general prosecutors (AGP).

In reply to a question, the law minister said that he would not comment on mobile courts run by executive magistrates as the matter was still pending with the Appellate Division. At a session with the home ministry, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said required police personnel would be provided while mobile courts were held.

The three-day conference of DCs began at the Secretariat on July 25.