Work as patriot, not as official: PM asks DCs

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged the deputy commissioners (DCs) to discharge their duties as a patriotic citizen to ensure welfare of the people and make true the expedition of turning Bangladesh into a hunger and poverty free country. "Be part of our expedition for building a poverty and hunger free country not only as a government official but also as a patriotic citizen. You devote yourself to this work and encourage your colleagues," she said while inaugurating the annual conference of the DCs at her office in the city. The PM said the DCs should not be engaged only in routine works, rather they have to innovate new ways and strategies for welfare of the people in their areas. The DCs have to come out of old bureaucratic perception playing the role as a bridge between the government and the people at grassroots level in implementing the government policies and development programmes, she added. It's the second meeting of the Prime Minister with the top brasses of the district administration after taking office for the second consecutive term in January, 2014. During the three-day conference, the DCs would have scopes to discuss with the ministers and government policy makers the hurdles they face in discharging their duties and receive necessary directives and solutions to overcome the problems. Cabinet members, Secretaries, Divisional Commissioners, senior government officials were present. Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan gave the welcome address while Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong M Abdullah, Deputy Commissioner of Satkhira Nazmul Ahsan, Deputy Commissioner of Habiganj Sabina Alam and Deputy Commissioner of Lalmonirhat Habibur Rahman also spoke on the occasion. On the occasion, the Prime Minister distributed 'Digital Service Award" among one divisional commissioner and three deputy commissioners for their outstanding contribution to promoting digital services in their areas. They are- Divisional Commissioner of Rangpur Delwar Bakth, Deputy Commissioner of Kushtia Syed Belal Hossain, Deputy Commissioner of Panchgarh M Salauddin and Deputy Commissioner of Narayanganj Anisur Rahman Mia, according to BSS.

- mbz