DCs asked to speed up dev works before polls

Ministers on Wednesday asked the field administration to take action against sand lifting from rivers and expedite development works before next general poll and reduce their protocol duties for important persons.
Cabinet members while attending business session on the second day of the deputy commissioners’ conference at secretariat also asked field administrators to increase their monitor to curb artificial fertiliser crisis and remain alert about possible landslide during monsoon.
‘One of the main reasons for the landslide is tree felling on hill slopes and building structures there,’ environment and forest minister Anisul Islam Mahmud said emerging from a business session at the secretariat.
He said that permanent evacuation of illegal occupants at hills was the way to stop casualty from landslide at hilly areas. Rehabilitation and transfer of these people was also needed, he added.
He asked DCs to remain alert about possible landslide during the rest of the monsoon season.
‘We would need to accept the loss of forests in Cox’s Bazar because of the Rohingyas. We are planning reforestation in the area,’ Anisul Islam said.
Chittagong DC, in his written proposals for the meeting, recommended stoppage of hill cutting and permanent evacuation of illegal occupants of hills.
They made such comments when five people including four members of a family were killed and four others injured in incidents of landslide, triggered by incessant rainfall for the last couple of days in Sadar and Ramu upazilas of the district on Wednesday.
Last year at least 150 people were killed in landslide at Chittagong, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari and other districts.
Coming out from a business session road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader said that he asked DCs to expedite development works taken by the government, like Padma bridge, metro rail, Karnaphuli tunnel and others.
Expedite the development works as much as possible till October when the election schedule would be announced for next general polls, Quader asked DCs. 
Quader also asked DCs to take steps for making the existing roads passable and usable. He asked the DCs to make travelers journey smooth during upcoming Eid Ul Azha keeping in mind market of sacrificial animals, their transportations, wrong route driving, battery-run rickshaws and easy bikes.
‘As ruling party [Awami League] general secretary, I said that the DCs must not do anything that could embarrass government and urged them not to bow down to any kind of pressure,’ he said.
Quader said that he asked DCs they should reduce protocol duties for ministers and very important persons. 
‘How will you perform your duties if you remain engaged in protocol duties for ministers and VIPs; you should reduce your protocol duties,’ Obaidul Quader said.
Health minister Mohammed Nasim on the day asked the DCs to make their best efforts to help reach healthcare facilities to people’s doorsteps.
The minister also asked them to complete their unfinished tasks related to health services by December.
According to water resources officials, Anwar Hossain asked DCs to take steps to stop illegal collection of sand from river bed to check river erosion.
Agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury asked the field administrators to increase monitoring to curb artificial fertiliser crisis.
Officials said that the Thakurgoan DC demanded that the mandatory provision of considering reports/ information from various agencies for promotions and transfers should be relaxed for civil servants. 
Bhola DC has recommended remote area allowance for officials working in the district and Patukhali DC sought inclusion of river vessel for officials. Khulna DC recommended increasing of local resources fund managed by the respective district administrations.
Public administration secretary Faiz Ahmed said that they informed field officers that they already requested finance ministry for steps regarding remote area allowance, inclusion of river vessel for officials and raising local resources fund.
‘I can say that all should act according to their mandate and rules of business,’ Faiz said about DCs proposal of the relaxing of the mandatory provision for considering reports/ information from various agencies for promotions and transfers of officials.’
Khulna DC recommended amendment to the Village Court Act 2006 empowering upazila nirbahi officers as ‘appellate authority’ replacing Class I magistrate/ assistant judge. 
Dhaka and Gazipur DCs proposed for modern children parks at all upazila and district headquarters. 
The LGRD and co-operatives minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain said that he had fruitful discussion with DCs and their proposal was considerable.
The conference is an annual meeting of the heads of district administrations with policy makers of the government for discussing policy matters and development strategies to gear up the field administration.
The deputy commissioners made 347 proposals relating to 52 ministries and divisions for the three-day conference concludes today.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net