The government has assigned 30 ministers, state ministers and whips of Parliament to oversee and coordinate overall government activities in all 64 districts, including maintaining law and order, combating corruption and drug abuse, and ensuring good governance, transparency and accountability.
The information was disclosed in a gazette notification signed by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani on Thursday.
The assignments will take immediate effect.
According to the notification, the government has expressed concern that development allocations in various districts had previously been misappropriated through widespread corruption, with part of the proceeds allegedly siphoned abroad and the rest used for activities involving drugs, social degradation and threats to public and state security.
Against this backdrop, the ministers, state ministers and whips have been given the responsibility of supervising and coordinating district-level activities related to law and order, corruption and drug control, good governance, transparency and accountability, as well as development and public welfare programs.
Under the distribution of responsibilities, Iqbal Hassan Mahmood has been assigned Rajshahi and Natore, while Dr Abu Zafar Md Zahid Hossain will oversee Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Panchagarh. Abdul Awal Mintoo has been given responsibility for Lakshmipur.
Nitai Roy Chowdhury will oversee Chuadanga, Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Habiganj; and Ariful Haque Choudhury, Moulvibazar.
Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee has been assigned Chittagong. M Rashiduzzaman Millat will oversee Sherpur, Mymensingh and Netrokona, while Asadul Habib Dulu will oversee Thakurgaon and Dinajpur.
Md Asaduzzaman has been assigned Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat, while Zakaria Taher will oversee Feni and Noakhali.
Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain will oversee Manikganj and Munshiganj, while Sa Ching Prue has been assigned Cox's Bazar.
Md Shariful Alam will oversee Tangail and Narsingdi; Shama Obaed Islam Madaripur and Shariatpur; and Aninda Islam Amit Meherpur, Kushtia and Jhenaidah.
Abdul Bari has been assigned Bogra and Chapainawabganj; Sultan Salauddin Tuku Dhaka; and Mir Mohammed Helal Uddi Khagrachhari, Bandarban and Rangamati. Habibur Rashid will oversee Gazipur and Narayanganj.
Md Razib Ahsan has been assigned Barguna, Patuakhali and Pirojpur; Mir Shahe Alam Rangpur, Gaibandha and Kurigram; and Farzana Sharmin Sirajganj and Pabna.
Shaikh Faridul Islam will oversee Jessore, Magura and Narail, while Yasser Khan Choudhury has been assigned Jamalpur and Kishoreganj.
Ahammad Sohel Monzoor will oversee Barishal, Bhola and Jhalakathi, Md Shamim Kaiser Joypurhat and Naogaon; and GK Gaus Sylhet and Sunamganj.
Mia Nuruddin Ahmed has been assigned Rajbari, Faridpur and Gopalganj, while ABM Ashraf Uddin will oversee Brahmanbaria, Comilla and Chandpur.
The notification said the assigned ministers, state ministers and whips will advise government offices on controlling drug abuse and illegal trafficking, preventing smuggling and curbing serious crimes to maintain and improve the overall law and order situation in their respective districts.
They will also supervise and provide guidance on implementation of the government's election manifesto, poverty alleviation, employment generation, social safety-net programmes and various development and public welfare initiatives.
If necessary, they may attend district-level meetings and provide advice on relevant issues, according to the notification.
It further said the assignments were made in accordance with the existing powers of the prime minister and the government and decisions of the Cabinet, without undermining the legal authority of local government institutions or other constitutional and statutory bodies.
