Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the cabinet members to take immediate steps to execute the existing law on house rents in a bid to resist illogical hike of house rents in the capital city and its suburbs.
At the regular cabinet meeting held at the secretariat, she also asked them to create new posts and fill the vacancies in the civil bureaucracy, a senior cabinet member who attended the meeting told the Dhaka Tribune, seeking anonymity.
Chaired by the prime minister, the meeting was also attended by senior officials.
After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters that the premier had asked the high officials to take immediate steps to create new posts and fill the vacancies in different ministries and public offices.
“There are few stages to complete a recruitment process. It takes enough time to create new posts and recruit manpower as recommendation of the Public Service Commission is a must for appointing Class I and Class II officers. It is time-consuming. But the authority can easily appoint other employees,” he said, adding that the premier asked them to develop a mechanism to expedite the process.
“The cabinet, finance and public administration secretaries as well as secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office will find out a way to streamline the process. A committee would be formed, if necessary.”
He added: “The PSC will do it; we will just help them work out the mechanism.”
The meeting also discussed the progress in implementing the cabinet decisions. It was informed that around 51.35% decisions of the present government were implemented during its three months. Only 19 out of total 37 decisions taken by the present cabinet have been implemented, the cabinet secretary said.
“The premier asked the authority to accelerate the preparation of their plans as per the election pledges of the government.”
She ordered completion of preparation for laws following important military ordinances which became invalid due to High Court’s order.
State Minister for Labour Mujibul Haque Chunnu raised the issue of hike in house rents across the country mainly in industrial areas, causing sufferings to the labours.
He requested the prime minister to take initiative to resist increasing house rents as garment workers and labours can easily lead their life with their existing wages. Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan also supported the state minister.
The prime minister said, “We have a number of good laws, but those are not being enforced properly. As a result, the people of the country have to suffer a lot. People’s sufferings would ease, if the house rent act is executed. The authorities concerned should take steps in this regard.”
Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain informed the meeting that the government is building some flats in Dhaka city and other areas. It will reduce the crisis of houses and house rents too.
Another cabinet member said most of the ministers took part in an open discussion on shortage of manpower and huge vacancies. The issues of shortage of doctors and nurses as well as AC (land), kanoongo and surveyors came up in the meeting.
The premier asked the ministers and high officials concerned to take steps in this regard. She also asked the ministries to follow the recruitment and posting rules.
She said, “The ministries must take the rules into account while posting public servant couples. They must get a posting in nearer place, if it is not possible to accommodate them in the same place.”
