Be part of our expedition for building a poverty and hunger free country: PM At DC Conference

"Be part of our expedition for building a poverty and hunger free country not only as a government official but also as a patriotic citizen. You devote yourself to this work and encourage your colleagues," she said while inaugurating the annual conference of the DCs at her office here today.

The Prime Minister said the DCs should not be engaged only in routine works, rather they have to innovate new ways and strategies for welfare of the people in their areas. The DCs have to come out of old bureaucratic perception playing the role as a bridge between the government and the people at grassroots level in implementing the government policies and development programmes, she added.

It's the second meeting of the Prime Minister with the top brasses of the district administration after taking office for the second consecutive term in 2014. During the three-day conference, the DCs would have scopes to discuss with the ministers and government policy makers the hurdles they face in discharging their duties and receive necessary directives and solutions to overcome the problems.

Cabinet members, Secretaries, Divisional Commissioners, senior government officials were present.

Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan gave the welcome address while Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong M Abdullah, Deputy Commissioner of Satkhira Nazmul Ahsan, Deputy Commissioner of Habiganj Sabina Alam and Deputy Commissioner of Lalmonirhat Habibur Rahman also spoke on the occasion.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister distributed 'Digital Service Award" among one divisional commissioner and three deputy commissioners for their outstanding contribution to promoting digital services in their areas.

They are- Divisional Commissioner of Rangpur Delwar Bakth, Deputy Commissioner of Kushtia Syed Belal Hossain, Deputy Commissioner of Panchgarh M Salauddin and Deputy Commissioner of Narayanganj Anisur Rahman Mia.

Urging the deputy commissioners to keep them above all fear and avarice while discharging their duties with foremost goal to protect the interest of the country and people. "You will be able to perform your job best when you would remain steady on the path of truth and justice," she said.

In this regard, the Prime Minister gave some directives to the deputy commissioners saying, "You have to give special attention to those issues despite your preoccupation with many other jobs."

She said deputy commissions must give attention to the government services so that the people are not harassed or deprived of getting those services. As well the DCs have to take stern steps against woman and child repression, dowry, eve-teasing, child-marriage, drug and human trafficking.

Calling upon the DCs to take special programmes for welfare of the disable persons, autistics and marginal people in their areas, the Prime Minister said attention should be given to increase women literacy rate, reduce dropout of school children and bring them back to the mainstream.

Sheikh Hasina said every district has some unique features and produces some special agro products. The deputy commissioners have to take care of increasing production of those agro items along with creating necessary rural infrastructure for processing and marketing of those items.

The deputy commissioners have to take all measures to ensure unhindered supply of fertilizer, seeds, power and energy to increase agricultural production, she added.

The Prime Minister said the deputy commissioners must work in coordination with the public representatives at the grassroots level and have to provide all out assistance for promotion of IT technology to reach the government services to the doorstep of the people.

Asking the deputy commissioners to remain vigilance to protect the public lands and ensure efficiency and transparency in land administration and management. She said the deputy commissioners have to wage massive awareness campaign against marketing of adulterated food and for environment protection, conservation of the water bodies and stringent execution of laws in this regard.

The Prime Minister also asked the deputy commissioners to make effective the 'Gram Adalat' to reduce backlog of cases in the courts and deliver justice to the common people easily.

She asked the deputy commissioners to strictly follow and execute the 'Women Development Policy-2011" and take steps to make people aware about terrorism and militancy.

Sheikh Hasina said the rights of the consumers should be given institutional shape and any attempt to create artificial crisis in the market should be dealt with strong hands.

She asked the deputy commissioners of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) area to work in coordination with the Regional Council saying steps should be taken for protection and conservation of the geological features of the CHT, landscape, forests, river and waterbodies, wildlife and scenic beauty of the hills.

The Prime Minister extended her thanks to the deputy commissioners for their stride to contain vandalism, anarchy and vengeance on innocent people of some political parties at the beginning of this year and before.

"We could tackle the situation as you were active against the incident and barbaric acts when innocent people were burnt alive," she said adding that the deputy commissioners must be careful to check recurrence of such occurrences in future.