Deputy Commissioners (DCs) from across the country yesterday proposed widening their jurisdiction to ensure law and order in the country.
The DCs of 64 districts at a three-day annual conference also urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to specify their functions as they “face multifarious problems in discharging their duties.”
Three DCs and one divisional commissioner spoke at the conference. They sought block allocation for the DCs and supply of formalin-checking kits.
While inaugurating the conference the prime minister did not respond to the proposals. She, however, agreed to supply formalin-checking kits.
“The prime minister gave us some instructions to follow,” a DC told the Dhaka Tribune over phone. He, however, did not elaborate.
Khulna Divisional Commissioner Abdul Jalil urged the prime minister to form a commission to determine their functions and jurisdiction and the relation between police and general administration, form a judicial review committee and to formulate a civil servant act.
Addressing the DCs, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed them to perform lawful responsibility rising above fear and temptation and remain active in protecting people’s interests.
“We need continuity of the development. We need your views in taking forward the projects taken up during the past tenure and new projects,” she said.
Hasina gave a 24-point directive to the DCs. She asked them to work in harmony with public representatives, rein in the prices of daily essentials, curb Islamist militancy and drug uses.
Talking about the January 5 election, she said people through their mandate had given them the opportunity to build a country free from hunger, poverty, terrorism and communism with the spirit of the Liberation War.
“This is the first time in the country that power had been handed over from an elected government to another,” she said, thanking the DCs for successfully holding the January 5 election despite various adversities.
Hasina said her government was working ceaselessly to ensure overall welfare of the people by implementing various development programmes.
Referring to the context of the January 5 election at the conference, Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md Abdul Jalil said the election-time violence in Khulna division was a great example of sabotage.
He said the cut in magistracy power and power to take cases into cognisance and decentralisation of administrative power had limited their authority.
Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati Mostafa Kamal too strongly spoke about widening the jurisdiction of the DCs.
Madaripur DC GSM Zafarullah suggested that the government should supply formalin-checking kits and equipment to local administration.
The premier in her address urged the government officials to serve the nation like patriots.
“I hope that not only as public servants you would dedicate yourselves to the public welfare as patriotic citizens and also encourage your colleagues to this end,” she said.
The prime minister said universities would be established in every district under public and private initiatives to make higher education available at the local level.
Putting emphasis on keeping the prices of the essentials within the capacity of the common people, Hasina asked the DCs to strongly prevent any ill attempts of price hike through artificial crisis during Ramadan.
During an open discussion at the Prime Minister’s Office, 22 DCs participated in the discussion.
The DCs proposed forming a separate police unit under them, saying they often faced problems in maintaining law and order as they did not get support from district police.