Divisional And District Commissioners Are Important For A Prosperous Bangladesh: PM

"The role of divisional commissioner and DCs in building a happy and prosperous Bangladesh free from hunger, poverty, illiteracy, militancy and communalism is very important as you stay close with the common people," she said.

"So, I hope that not only as public servants, you would dedicate yourselves to the public welfare as a patriotic citizen and also encourage your colleagues to this end," she added.

The Prime Minister gave the directives while inaugurating the three-day conference of the deputy commissioners (DCs) at the International Conference Centre of the Prime Minister's Office
here this morning.

State Minister for Public Administration Ismat Ara Sadeq and Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan addressed the function.

Besides, Divisional Commissioner of Khulna Md Abdul Jalil, Deputy Commissioner of Madaripur GSM Zafarullah, Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati Mostafa Kamal and Deputy Commissioner of Panchagarh M Salahuddin spoke on the occasion.

While giving 24-point directives to the DCs, Sheikh Hasina also asked them to work closely with the public representatives for establishing good governance at the grassroots level.

She also directed them to ensure proper and timely implementation of central decisions at the field level and give leadership in flourishing and development of information technology.

The Prime Minister underscored the need for strengthening transparency and accountability to establish good governance at every sector from state to society through expanding and implementing e - governance.

In this context, she asked them to strengthen public hearing and be cautious so that the common people are not harassed and deprived in anyway while receiving the public services.

The Prime Minister asked them to maintain peace, order and stability at every level of life through removing militancy and terrorism.

She said the deputy commissioners should work to prevent different social menaces like woman and child repression and trafficking, misuse of drug, eveteasing, dowry and child marriage.

The Prime Minister said one of the main goals of her government is to give shelter to every homeless citizen and asked the deputy commissioners to take initiatives to provide house to all the homeless in their respective districts.

Sheikh Hasina opined that expenditure on education is not a mere expenditure but it is an investment and if her government could afford, she would make the entire education of the country free.

Elaborating her government's steps for the flourishing of education including providing of free textbooks, stipend, financial help for poor parents and introduction of midday meal, Sheikh Hasina told the DCs to take steps to check dropout and bring the dropout students to the mainstream.

The Prime Minister in this context said universities would be established in every district under public and private initiative to make the higher education available at the local level.

Putting emphasis on keeping the prices of the essentials within the capacity of the common people, Sheikh Hasina asked the deputy commissioners to strongly prevent any ill attempts of price hike of essentials through artificial crisis during the holy month of Ramadan.

Sheikh Hasina directed the DCs to take steps to ensure public security, establish peace in mills and factories and root out extortion, tender manipulation, muscle power and terrorism in their respective areas.

She also asked them to take stern action against the drug- peddling and trafficking and misuse of drugs.

The Prime Minister advised the DCs to spur the producers on keeping the foodgrains pollution free and create mass awareness in preventing marketing of adulterated food items.

She underscored the need for raising mass awareness about protecting environment and proper application of the laws and rules regarding environment.

Sheikh Hasina told DCs to remain alert about increasing efficiency and transparency in land administration and management and protecting government land.

"I hope you would also take necessary measures to ensure supply of fertilizers, seeds, electricity and fuel in boosting agri production," she said.

Illustrating her government's sunning successes in the fields of agriculture, education, health, communication, power, food security, social safety net and ICT, the Prime Minister said the main aim of her government is to turn Bangladesh into a middle income country by 2021.

Sheikh Hasina said the continuation of a government is needed for the desired development of country and for the first time, an elected government is performing its duty for the second consecutive time.

She said her government, taking this advantage, is working ceaselessly to ensure overall welfare of the countrymen through
implementing various development programmes.

In this context, she thanked the DCs for successfully holding the January 5 election despite various adversities.

The Prime Minister said without long term development plan, desired development could not be possible and her government for the first time adopted a perspective plan for 2010-2021 period and also implementing the sixth five-year plan.

She mentioned that the government is going to frame the seventh five-year plan and sought suggestions of the DCs on problems and potentials of their respective areas.

Referring to the "Ashrayan Project" of the government to provide houses to the homeless people, the Prime Minister directed the DCs to take necessary initiative to ensure houses for all homeless.

"We won't let anybody remain homeless. If there is no khas land, we would construct houses for the every homeless by purchasing lands," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has taken steps to build flats in every union of the country to reach civic amenities to the rural people.

"Not only for the people of urban areas, we also want to reach the civic amenities to the rural people," she said.

Mentioning her government's steps for poverty alleviation including expansion of social safety net she said food security of the people has been ensured. The term 'Monga' has been removed through various pragmatic measures of the government.

Seeking all out cooperation of the DCs to implement the proposed Formalin Control Act in order to ensure poison free foods for the people the Prime Minister asked the Cabinet Secretary to send a guidelines regarding the tolerance level of formalin in the foods to the DCs.

The Prime Minister asked the DCs to make proper application of their merit, labour, skill and experience in building Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu.

"Bangladesh will be turned into a happy, prosperous and peaceful country with the united efforts of all Insha Allah. So, let us come to dedicate ourselves to achieve the goal," she said.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)