Eliminate extortion,tender grabbing, drugs, PM tells DCs

Laying out a 23-point directive for them, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked the deputy commissioners (DCs) to take tough actions against extortion, tender grabbing, muscle flexing, terrorism and drugs for eliminating these menaces from society.

“You don’t need to look at who belong to which party and who do what… just go for actions,” the Prime Minister said while opening a three-day conference of deputy commissioners at her office.

She also asked the deputy commissioners to contact her or her office directly if anyone creates obstacles towards performing this job. “I’m giving you the permission to communicate with me or my office directly… we’ll look into the matter.”

Sheikh Hasina said her government wants to root out evil acts like tender grabbing, muscle flexing, terrorism and drugs. “We want to ensure peace for and security of people,” she said.

She also asked the DCs to take care of the government’s development programmes across the country which will be beneficial for people.

“We’ve taken development programmes spending huge money…you need to look after the programmes… you need to see whether these are properly being implemented …the people of the country will be benefited with your care….,” Hasina said.

The Prime Minister asked the DCs to work for the socioeconomic development of people. “Hope, you’ll engage your creativity and talents.”

Hasina laid out a 23-point directive for the DCs to ensure people’s welfare and directed them to be more active in implementing development programmes.

She asked the DCs to remain vigil so that the common people must not be harassed and deprived of when it comes to availing of government services.

The Prime Minister reiterated that the ongoing drive against drugs will continue to save youth folks of the country and directed the DCs to work with greater sincerity for maintaining peace, discipline and stability in every sphere of life through eliminating militancy, terrorism and communalism.

Terming the DCs the representatives of the government at the district level, she asked them to carry out their responsibilities with the mindset of serving people.

“You’ll have to work together with public representatives to strengthen the rural economy further and develop infrastructures in villages,” Hasina said.

The DCs must go tough against food adulteration, she said asking them to remain vigilant to protect government lands alongside increasing skill and transparency in land administration and management.

The Prime Minister directed them to know the problems and prospects of their areas in detail and inform the central administration timely. the development plans were prepared on the basis of their reports.

Praising the initiatives of a number of district administrations and police officials for making their districts free from begging, Hasina assured them of providing assistance from her relief fund to make their drive even more successful.

She also urged them to come up with more innovative ideas for the benefits and welfare of people.

About the steps of her government to set up 100 economic zones across the country, the Prime Minister directed the top divisional and district officials not to allocate any cultivable for building factories. “You must also make village courts active to ensure justice for people and reduce the backlog of cases.”

Directing the DCs to lead the development and expansion of ICT, Hasina said they would have to take measures to raise the rate of female education.

The Prime Minister said the DCs were playing a very important role in taking the benefits of the government’s development projects to the doorsteps of people and contributing towards ensuring the overall progress through their tireless and sincere efforts.

She said the ultimate goal of the present government is to build a happy, prosperous, knowledge-based Digital Bangladesh free from hunger, poverty, illiteracy, militancy and communalism. “The role of divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners are very much important in this regard,” she said.

State Minister for Public Administration Ismat Ara Sadeque, Cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office M Nojibur Rahman also spoke on the occasion.

Divisional Commissioner of Rajshahi and deputy commissioners of Naogaon, Chuadanga and Munshiganj districts also addressed the programme.

Cabinet members, PM’s advisers and secretaries of different ministries and divisions were present.

source:UNB