Local Government Minister Syed Ashraful Islam has given instructions to the deputy commissioners to be prepared for holding a free, fair and acceptable general election.
“The elections of city corporations, municipalities and union parishads were held peacefully without deploying the army. It was proved that fair election can be held without army deployment. The next election will be held peacefully without caretaker government. The result of the election will also be acceptable to all,” Ashraf, also the Awami League general secretary, said.
Other ministers, state ministers and prime minister’s advisors, besides Ashraf, all urged the DCs to prepare for a free and fair general election and the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, on the second day of three-day DC conference yesterday at the secretariat.
The local government minister also ordered the DCs to eliminate the conflicts between districts administration, district councils and upazila parishads immediately to accelerate government development programmes.
The DCs were also directed to operate eviction drives to remove illegal structures along highways, faster disposal of vested property return applications, controlling commodity prices, monitoring markets, reduce traffic congestion during Eid-ul-Fitr and adopt restrictions over issuing trade licences.
Meanwhile, DCs of different districts placed several demands before the government representatives, including reducing the ceiling on personal lands, preparing a crop policy on tobacco production, introducing a rationing system for public servants and enhancing the capacity of food warehouses in rural areas.
The DCs will have to play the role that they played during last four and half years for holding some local government and parliament election, he said.
Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira instructed the DCs to clear all confusion concerning vested property returning issues and dispose applications within the period stipulated in the law. The deadline to appeal on vested properties has also been extended up to December 31. There are 670,000 acres of vested properties currently under the government.
He also ordered them to protect farmlands from misuse to continue food production and ensure the food security of people.
Dhaka DC Sheikh Yusuf Harun suggested that the government triple the land acquisition price considering the present marker price of lands in the country.
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader said the DCs were asked to come up with assistance to remove illegal encroachments on roads and highways across Bangladesh.
After meeting the DCs on the second day of the conference he said ensuring smooth traffic and avoiding accidents was the biggest challenge in the rundown to the Eid. It is my biggest priority to ensure hassle free travel during Eid, he said.
Instructing the DCs to play a role in controlling commodity prices during Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr, Commerce Minister GM Quader said, all the DCs will have to monitor the markets to control the prices of commodities.
He also ordered them to be alert on issuing trade licences carefully so that nobody should get the scope of making illegal profits.
Ministers Matia Chowdhury, Abdur Razzaque, Dilip Barua, Mujibul Hoque, Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, Dipu Moni, Khandokar Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Latif Biswas, AH Mahmud Ali, Hasan Mahmud and AFM Ruhul Haq, and State Minister Meher Afroz Chumki also held meeting with the DCs
