The interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is set to appoint new Deputy Commissioners (DCs) across all districts in Bangladesh. A new fit list has been prepared, prioritizing those who were previously overlooked for promotion during the Awami League government's tenure. The fit list, developed by the Ministry of Public Administration, includes over 600 officials from the BCS 24th, 25th, and 27th batches, who have been deprived of promotions in the past 15-16 years. The interim government aims to address these long-standing grievances by considering these officials for the DC roles. A high-ranking official confirmed that the previous fit list created under the Awami League government is not being considered. Instead, the new list focuses on officials with extensive field administration experience who were previously sidelined due to political reasons. Many of these officials were labeled as supporters of opposition parties, leading to negative intelligence reports that blocked their promotions. In light of this, the government has relaxed the criteria for DC appointments to give these officials a fair chance. The committee, led by the Cabinet Secretary, has made special provisions to ensure that these deserving officers are appointed as DCs. Read more: Interim Govt taking steps to declare Metro Rail a key point installation for enhanced security: Adviser Fouzul The new policy allows officials who have been in the BCS (Administration) cadre for at least one year as Deputy Secretary and have a minimum of two years of experience in specific roles, such as Deputy Director or Additional Deputy Commissioner, to be eligible for the DC positions. They must also have a satisfactory disciplinary record over the past five years and demonstrate proficiency in project management, ICT, and both Bangla and English. Despite their qualifications, many of these officers were denied DC positions under the previous government. The decision to relax the policy and create a new fit list reflects the interim government's commitment to addressing these past injustices. The process of appointing new DCs began on Saturday, with interviews of 60 officials from the BCS 24th batch conducted under the supervision of Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain. Interviews will continue over the next three days, involving more officials from the 24th batch and beyond. Several Deputy Secretaries from various ministries and departments have been shortlisted for the DC positions. The interviews include officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Power, the Ministry of Finance, and the Anti-Corruption Commission, among others. Read more: Interim Government to publish White Paper on current economic situation In a related development, approximately 200 Joint Secretaries from the 9th to 13th BCS batches, who were also deprived of promotions, are set to be promoted to Additional Secretary. The recommendation for these promotions was sent to the Chief Adviser’s office on Saturday, with an official notification expected by Sunday or Monday. However, it has been reported that certain officials who previously served in key roles within the Prime Minister's Office will not be considered for the DC appointments, as per directives from higher authorities.

Sate Minister for Water Resources Ministry Zahid Faruk on Thursday directed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to remain  vigilant to stop illegal sand extraction from rivers. The dams which are built on the rivers collapse due to the illegal sand extraction, he said while talking to reporters after the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference 2023 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital. Sand can be extracted only from those places which the Water Development Board declares as ‘Balu Mahals’ (sand quarries) as sand is needed for the development of the country, he said. “In this way we will be able to meet the need for sand as well as prevent river erosion.” Due to climate change, river erosion and flood has increased in Bangladesh, said the state minister. “Last year we saw early flooding in rural areas. Even then we didn't let the crops get damaged. I have taken precautions.” Read more: Sand lifting from rivers at night to be banned: State Minister Stating that a few DCs spoke about the problem of river erosion in their areas, he said, "We are working, but the pace is slow due to the global recession." “When a problem is raised from an area, we take action after conducting a survey,” he said urging the engineers to talk to local public representatives and solve their problems.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah on Wednesday directed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to show zero tolerance against corruption. Country’s development is not possible with corruption, the matter has been brought to the notice of the DCs and Divisional Commissioners, he said while talking to reporters on the 2nd day of Deputy Commissioners’ Conference 2023 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital. The DCs were asked to inform any corruption allegation to the ACC if there is no scope for taking action against anyone, he said. “We have to prevent corruption at any cost, and whoever it is we are ready to investigate it,” he said. Read more: PM Hasina opens annual DC conference When asked about the corruption in the land offices, the ACC chairman said digitisation will help reduce corruption in the land offices to some extent. Regarding the allegations of corruption against the DCs, he said, “I do not have the authority to give warnings on the issue of corruption. It is in our constitution. In view of that, laws have been made, commissions have been formed.” He said that if there is any corruption case with merit for investigation, no matter who the person is, an investigation will take place.

Deputy commissioners (DCs) have been asked to remain vigilant so that no one can manipulate price of daily essentials during the month of Ramadan, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said today. The minister said this while talking to reporters after the fourth meeting with DCs at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city. “I have asked them to take strict measures so that no one can take advantage of the price of necessary items during Ramadan,” he said. He also asked to remain aware about consumers rights. “The assistance of DCs is needed to expand the trade and many have alleged that they failed to get fair price of rawhide during Eid-ul-Azha. Please take necessary steps in this regard,” he said. Replying to a question about monitoring the daily essentials’ markets, Tipu said the DCs have been asked to implement all steps taken by the government. Also read: Minimum or zero LC margin for imports of daily commodities for Ramadan, says Tipu Munshi The three-day annual conference of the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) began on Tuesday. This time there will be a total of 26 sessions, including 20 working sessions, with various ministries at the DC conference that will end on Thursday.    

The three-day annual conference of the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) will begin on Tuesday (January 24, 2023). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to open it at 10 am at Shapla Hall in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), said Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain while briefing reporters at the Secretariat. This time there will be a total of 26 sessions, including 20 working sessions, with various ministries in the DC conference that will end on Thursday (January 26, 2023). On this occasion, the DCs will meet the President, the Chief Justice and the Speaker and take instructions from them, said the cabinet secretary. Also Read: DCs asked to take steps against brick kilns In the conference the deputy commissioners will exchange views with the relevant ministries for the implementation of various policies, strategies and instructions of the government, he said. Secondly, they come up with various reform proposals based on the challenges they face, the experience they accumulate at the field level while implementing the government's various directives and policies, Mahub said. “We have received a total of 245 proposals from various ministries and deputy commissioners this year,” he added. In response to a question regarding the next national election, he said, “We will provide full cooperation for holding a fair election. We hope that new momentum will come in our field level activities through this year's DCs Conference.”  

The deputy commissioners (DCs) of 64 districts have been requested to take legal steps against illegal brick kilns that pollute the environment and to stop the use of wood as fuel in the brickfields. Farhina Ahmed, secretary to the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry called on the DCs to do so at a meeting with them organised by the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry, held at the Secretariat on Tuesday. Read more: Remove illegal brick kilns in 4 districts: HC The ministry organised the meeting in an effort to take steps to control the pollution caused by the illegal brick kilns and stop use of plastic and polythene. Farhina Ahmed, secretary to the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry, additional secretaries Sanjay Kumar Bhoumik and Mizanur Rahman, Directorate General of the Department of Environment Abdul Hamid and other high officials of the ministry were present at the meeting. The environment secretary said use of agricultural land and destruction of agricultural land should be stopped to ensure food security. She also directed the director general of the Department of Environment to take necessary steps to ensure the use of 100 percent environment-friendly block bricks in all government works by the year 2025 as per the target fixed by the government.  Read more: Brick kilns threaten environment & cause health hazards in south-western Bangladesh In order to involve all the stakeholders to prevent various types of pollution including brick kilns, she instructed the DoE to organise awareness meetings in all the districts of the country on an urgent basis. In the meeting, it was decided to strengthen the regular enforcement and mobile court drives conducted by the DoE and the district administration to stop the production and use of polythene shopping bags and the marketing of the wrappers which have been banned by the government.  It was decided to take necessary initiatives to implement the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2021 for the proper management of solid waste. In addition, instructions were given to implement the three-year action plan to stop the use of single-use plastic in 40 upazilas of 12 districts of the coastal region on an urgent basis. During the meeting, the officials of the ministry and the deputy commissioners exchanged their views on taking effective measures to stop illegal brick kilns and use of plastic and polythene.  They were also requested to update the relevant laws and regulations and solve some of the existing problems. 

Bangladesh Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim on Thursday asked the deputy commissioners to take steps to curb adulteration of animal feed. “The deputy commissioners have been asked to take steps in preventing animal feed adulteration and the use of the existing fishing nets," the Minister told reporters after attending the DC Conference in Dhaka. Read: Refrain from communal provocation: Rezaul Karim “We have asked the deputy commissioners to monitor the production of fisheries and livestock products and its marketing management directly and indirectly,” he said. They were also requested to take steps to implement the different projects of the government "as no one can misuse the money allocated for the same", said Rezaul. “A revolutionary change has been brought in the country in producing fish, meat, milk and eggs. Bangladesh achieved the third position in fish production. We have taken steps to produce the extinct fish species through artificial ways,” he said. Mentioning the proposal of the DCs, the Minister said, “The DCs have placed a proposal of marking vessels with a symbol in the coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal and we have assured them of following the same.” Talking about providing licences to small river vessels, the Minister said that "there is no provision in this regard". Read:'Newly unemployed can be engaged in fisheries and livestock sector' On allegations of discrimination in the distribution of relief materials during the fishing ban, Rezaul said, “The government has provided assistance through VGF (vulnerable group feeding) programme and cash disbursements. We have updated the cards of fishermen and it’s a continuous process.” "The DCs and local administrations have been asked to get involved in the process to check irregularities at the district level."

President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday asked the deputy commissioners not to abuse power while discharging their responsibilities to the citizens. "The exercise of power is essential for the proper and efficient discharge of responsibilities,” the president said addressing virtually the DC Conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium. “But it is even more important to ensure that power is not abused. So consciously maintain the difference of responsibility and power in the workplace," he told the top district-level officials. Also read: Work rising above fear and greed: Hasina to DCs President Hamid reminded the officials of the great leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the creation of independent Bangladesh. "We should not forget that since the country became independent under the leadership of Bangabandhu, today I have become the president, you have become the secretary, divisional commissioner and deputy commissioner," he said. Stating that getting services is the right of the people, he said you will have to perform duties as a servant of the people.  "Deliver government services to the doorstep of the people. It should be remembered that we run our family with peoples' money. So providing government services is not a matter of kindness or benevolence," he said. Mentioning social security programmes as an effective medium for poverty alleviation and social justice, the president said the officials concerned must ensure benefits of the programme reach the real poor. "You have to provide effective leadership to meet the basic needs of poor people of the country, social protection and public empowerment of people, especially women empowerment," he also said. He said land records and survey management is being digitized to ensure the best use of land and land related services.  Also read: PM’s 24-point directive to DCs to improve public services "But during the land record, a group of dishonest employee is doing many irregularities in collaboration with local influential brokerage and taking illegal facilities. It is increasing the public sufferings," he said. He also asked the officials to be strict in these matters and take a strong step to stop any irregularities and ensure the punishment against the involved officers and employees. Describing corruption as the biggest obstacle to the development, he said "Durable development is being interrupted due to corruption. The culture of transparency and accountability in each level of field administration must be developed." Hamid said that the Deputy Commissioner Conference is an important forum for discussions about the activities taken up for people at the field level. Cabinet Secretary Khandhakar Anawarul Islam delivered the welcome speech while deputy commissioner of Sunamganj Jahagir Hossain and divisional commissioner of Chattagram division Kamrul Hasan spoke at the session.

The much-awaited annual conference of the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) begins on Tuesday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to open it, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat after the Cabinet meeting. The Cabinet meeting was held at the Cabinet room of the Jatiya Sangsad with the Prime Minister in the chair. The DC conference has already been shortened to a three-day one from five-day, which will take place at Osmani Memorial Auditorium instead of the meeting room in the Cabinet division due to the fresh surge of Covid-19, said the Cabinet Secretary. Read: Cabinet clears draft law over EC formation Amid the surge of new variant Omicron, only 15 ministers and secretaries of 15 ministries have been invited to the inauguration ceremony, he said. Besides, the DCs have been asked to do the RT-PCR test along with his gunman, driver and companions before joining the conference, he said. Anwarul Islam revealed that till now two divisional commissioners and five DCs became tested with Covid-19 positive. They are divisional commissioners of Rajshahi and Barisal and DCs of Cox’s Bazar, Rajshahi, Patuakhali, Laxmipur and Chuadanga. Replying to a question regarding the use of virtual platforms against the backdrop of fresh surge of Coronavirus, he said “We actually don’t want to use technology as the Prime Minister talks and gives advice here.” In this connection, he said they have shifted the conference to Osmani Memorial Auditorium considering the Covid-19 situation and only 64 persons will be allowed to the venue although it has the capacity to accommodate 700 people. The cabinet secretary said President Abdul Hamid will deliver a speech virtually on Tuesday evening while Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Choudhury and the Chief Justice are also scheduled to address it virtually on Wednesday. Read: Held hostage by bureaucracy, bemoans ruling party MP The issues including Covid-19, land management, law enforcement, strengthening activities of local government, disaster management, poverty reduction and employment at the local level, social safety net activities, ICT and e-governance, education, health, environment, physical infrastructure and development activities are expected to be highlighted during the three-day DC conference.

The government has appointed new deputy commissioners to 13 districts. The Public Administration Ministry issued a gazette notification in this regard on Wednesday. As per the notification, Director (deputy secretary) of Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Anisur Rahman has been made DC of Gazipur while Chapainawabganj DC Md Manjurul Haque made DC of Narayanganj, Personal Secretary to State Minister for Education Md Shahgir Alam appointed DC of Brahmanbaria  and Public Administration Ministry’s Deputy Secretary Khalid Mehedi Hasan made DC of Naogaon. Read: Reshuffle in DMP once again: 8 OCs transferred Besides, Deputy Project Director of Ashrayan project(Deputy Secy) Mohammad Zahidur Rahman has been made DC of Pirojpur, Deputy Secretary of Public Administration Ministry Abu Kaisar Khan made DC of Rajbari, Home Minister’s personal secretary(Deputy secy) Dewan Mahbubur Rahman made DC of Noakhali and Deputy Secretary of Cabinet Division Aminul Islam made DC of  Chuadanga. Meanwhile, Public Administration ministry’s deputy secretary Nafisa Arefin has been appointed as DC of Nilphamari, Public Administration Ministry’s Deputy Secretary Md Oliur Rahman made DC of Gaibandha, Md Mojibur Rahman, who was serving as DC of Jhenaidah, made DC of Sylhet, Public Administration Ministry’s Deputy Secretary of Public Administration Ministry Monira Begum made DC of Jhenaidah and Deputy Director (Deputy Secretary) of Mymensingh DC office AKM Galiv Khan has been made the new DC of Chapainawabganj.