“You’re working as coordinators and supervisors of various activities of the government in your respective districts which is playing an important role in overall development of the country. Responsibility and power are given to each level of bureaucracy and political leadership. It’s essential to exercise power for performing responsibilities in a proper and fair way. But it’s more important to ensure that power is not abused," he said.
The President was addressing the ongoing Deputy Commissioner’s conference at Bangabhaban in the evening.
Calling for maintaining the value of duty and responsibility at workplace consciously, the President said, "We shouldn’t forget that the country achieved the independence under the leadership of Bangabandhu. Only for this, I’d been able to become President while you secretaries, divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners. Would you have been able to reach this position had the country not achieved the independence? So, you have to prioritise the interests of the people and the country.”
He also asked the DCs to serve people as their servants, not lords. “Deliver services to people’s doorsteps."
Describing the social safety programme as a very effective tool to reduce poverty establishing justice in the society, Abdul Hamid directed them to play an effective role in meeting the basic rights of the poor, and ensuring social safety and empowerment of people, especially women. "You have to ensure that the real poor get the benefits from the programme," he added.
He put emphasis on ensuring monitoring to end the influence of middlemen in foodgrain procurement. "The production will be affected if farmers don’t get fair prices for their produces. You have to take all necessary measure to this end.”
The President also asked the deputy commissioners to remain always ready to face any natural calamity, and protect forests, rivers and hills from the illegal encroachers.
He also directed for ensuring regular surveillances so that people are not harassed in any means.
Mentioning government’s ‘zero-tolerance’ policy against drugs, Abdul Hamid stressed the need for taking coordinated efforts to build a drug-free society, and called for being more active to save youths from the menace.
Terming corruption as the main hindrance to development, he instructed the DCs to establish the culture of transparency and accountability in every sphere of the field-level administration for smooth continuation of the development trend.
The President asked them to take preparations from now on to celebrate the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2020 and golden jubilee of independence in 2021 and ensure people’s spontaneous participation in those.
Terming the DC Conference as one of the best important forums for discussing and sharing their challenges to the policymakers, he also hoped that they will perform their responsibilities as the chiefs of the district administration and implement their tasks with utmost devotion.
Abdul Hamid also talked about the environment-friendly development of villages, proper land management and Right to Information Act.
Cabinet Secretary M Shafiul Alam delivered the welcome speech while Divisional Commissioner for Chattogram Abdul Mannan and Sylhet DC Kazi Emdadul Haque spoke as representatives of the participants.
Secretaries concerned to Bangabhaban were also present during the meeting.
The five-day long DC Conference began in the city on Saturday.