Fulfill your duties with more determination in maintaining peace and stability: HPM Sheikh Hasina to DCs

"You will have to discharge your duties with more caution and firmness in maintaining peace, discipline and stability in all spheres of life through eradicating militancy, terrorism and communalism," she said while inaugurating a four-day deputy commissioners' conference at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in the capital.

The Premier issued a 19-point directive for the administrative chiefs of the districts asking them firstly to remain careful so that common people by no means were exposed to any harassment and deprivation in getting public services.

She asked them to give particular attention to the people of minority communities, small ethnic groups, autistic people and any vulnerable group of people in their areas.

"Execution of the decisions and plans taken by the government mostly depend on you. Simultaneously as top executives of the government in the field the deputy commissioners can visit the development programmes and play role in taking projects in the districts based on their prospects," the Premier said.

Pointing out the recent spate of terrorism at home and abroad, the Prime Minister said militancy and terrorism emerged as a trouble though it was not a very new phenomenon.

"It's continuation of the occurrences which have been taking place in Bangladesh after 1975," she said reminding the DCs of the simultaneous countrywide bomb blasts in 500 places, murder of our two lawmakers during BNP-Jamaat regime and repeated attempts on her life after her return home from exile in 1981.

Minister for Public Administration Syed Ashraful Islam, state minister Ismat Ara Sadique spoke at the inaugural session of the conference while Cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam gave the welcome address.

Cabinet members, PM's advisors, PM's principal secretary, secretaries of the different ministries, divisional commissioners attended the function.

Divisional Commissioner of Dhaka Helal Uddin Ahmad, Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Mesbah Uddin, Deputy Commissioner of Rajbari Begum Zinat Ara and Deputy Commissioner of Sunamgonj Sheikh Rafiqul Islam also spoke on the occasion.

DC Conference is an annual event organized by Cabinet Division where administrative chiefs of districts and government policymakers interact on development and governance issues and set out priorities and guidelines for work for the subsequent one year.

Pointing out her video conference with the deputy commissioners and grassroots officials, political leaders and different professionals on July 12-13, 2016, the Prime Minister appreciated their response to call for combating militants and terrorists.

She directed the DCs to form committees at grassroots level saying perpetrators of terrorism should be tracked down and guardians should be motivated to take care of their children from being spoiled.

"It is expected that our children would take education and practice religion. But unfortunately they are being guided to be militants on the basis of an ideology of falsehood," she said.

The premier said being important officers at the field level the deputy commissioners have a crucial role in mobiling people of all walks of life against terrorism saying "you must apply highest merit, wit, efficiency and strength to tackle the terror activities".

She, however, stressed the need for execution of development projects asking for the deputy commissioners extra focus towards that end.

"Security is essential of public life (but) simultaneously proper execution of the development projects is also required for economic and social progress and prosperity of the people," the prime minister said.

Highlighting Bangladesh's economic progress over the years the Prime Minister said the government currently eyed for 7.2 percent GDP growth next year adding that the target could be achieved if the ongoing development projects taken by the government were implemented properly.

In this regard she asked the deputy commissioners to closely monitor the implementation of the projects particularly taken for poverty alleviation, solar power production, health care services through community clinics and public hospitals and housing for people.

Pointing out her government's step to enhance salaries and allowances of the civil servants under a new pay scale the premier said no government at home and abroad could raise salaries of the government employees to such a level in the past.

"We could do this as we have acquired the capacity as we are progressing with a pragmatic plan which we brought under five-year plans and a long term perspective plan," she said.

Sheikh Hasina laid importance on checking misuse of public money in the name of development work saying the prime and foremost objective of a development project should be taken in public interest, not any will or wish of anybody.

"Everybody must abandon their motive to use any public money in their own interest," she said.

The prime minister said a deputy commissioner can play huge role for development of a district and "so you have to come up with innovative thoughts and love and responsibility for the people of the country".

News: BSS
Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol