DC conference begins today

The annual conference of the deputy commissioners (DCs) gets underway in the capital today, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina likely to give them some directives ahead of the upcoming parliamentary polls.

The field-level administrators have put forward 347 proposals and demands for discussion with the government policymakers during the three-day conference. Maintaining law and order, tackling narcotics and resolving land-related problems are some of the key issues to be discussed at the meeting.

Sources at the Cabinet Division said some DCs would demand relaxing the mandatory provision for considering reports or information from various agencies for their promotions and postings, increasing the ceiling of fuel for upazila nirhabi officers (UNOs) and stopping the import of parts for illegal three-wheelers plying across the country.

The DCs, who also work as district magistrates, may ask for employing one platoon Battalion Ansar at each upazila in addition to police to help them maintain law and order and operate mobile courts.

Some also recommended increasing allocations under the Test Relief and Gratuitous Relief programmes for divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners to carry out rural infrastructure development activities smoothly.

A couple of DCs proposed setting up a separate court to deal with the drug-related cases.

Briefing journalists at the secretariat, Cabinet Division Secretary (coordination and reform) NM Zeaul Alam yesterday said improving law and order and standard of education, development of infrastructure, coordination in development activities and checking environment pollution would be discussed prominently at the conference.

He said the DCs would get instructions on different policies and the government's future course of action.

Wishing anonymity, a senior officer at the public administration ministry said, “The prime minister's directives will be the most important part of this year's conference as the next general election is only months away.”

The conference will kick off at the Prime Minister's Office in the morning. After Hasina's address, there will be a closed-door session where some selected DCs will raise some important issues or demands before the PM.

Twenty-two working sessions will be held at the secretariat on 51 ministries and divisions. All the 64 DCs, ministers and secretaries will attend the sessions.

Four sessions on the ministries of finance, Liberation War affairs, disaster management and relief, labour, power, primary and mass education, cultural affairs, information and youth and sports will be held.

TIB ON LOCALLY RAISED FUND

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) yesterday called upon the government to take “realistic measures” on handling Locally Raised (LA) fund under the supervision of district administrations after reviewing the issue at the DC conference.

The graft watchdog in a statement also urged the government to take similar measures to ensure effective implementation of the National Integrity Strategy 2012 at local level as per the government's promise and policy priority.

The TIB sent a letter to the cabinet secretary on July 22 requesting him to include the above issues in the agenda of the three-day DC conference, said the statement.

TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said, “Shedding light and exchanging views on the progress, possibility and challenge to implement the Shonar Bangla Gorar Prottoy: Jatiya Shuddhachar Koushol 2012 during the DC conference and taking the next course of action based on this will play a vital role to ensure good governance.”

He also termed a Cabinet Division circular, issued on August 10, 2016, on collecting, managing and using LA fund under the supervision of the district administration a positive step.