The government has no intention to establish any separate university for the children of bureaucrats at this moment, Public Administration Minister Farhad Hossain has said. “The government is working to ensure equal opportunity for all,” he said while talking to UNB at the secretariat on Sunday (May 05, 2024). “Bureaucrats placed a proposal regarding the establishment of a university for their children and we welcome any kind of proposal. We have many important things to do now and we are not thinking about it at the moment,” he said. Decision to increase age limit for govt jobs up to PM, says Public Administration Minister Divisional and deputy commissioners presented various proposals during the DC conference held from March 3-6. Different proposals including master’s and advanced degree programmes, training for civil service officers, and their children’s education came during the conference, he said. The DCs placed various demands including educational opportunities during their meeting with the prime minister. While talking about the Deputy Commissioners’ proposal, the minister reiterated the inclusive nature of higher education, emphasising that universities are institutions accessible to all where everyone has to get a chance through admission tests. “This is how we think about it.” Power and energy sector likely to get Tk 804 billion allocation in next two fiscal years The minister said, there is a government employee hospital for government employees, "The university is  universal, it comes from a universal idea." "A university is an open space where knowledge is freely acquired, and people can think without constraints. It's where minds develop, shaping individuals into capable citizens. It's a hub for all kinds of people, a place where genius thrives," the minister concluded.  

The Deputy  Commissioners have proposed to the Education Minister to draft a code of conduct for private educational institutions under the monthly pay order (MPO). Education Minister Dipu Moni revealed this at a press briefing for the Deputy Commissioners Conference 2023, organised by the Cabinet division at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Tuesday. Read more: 2 probe committees to be formed over errors in textbooks: Dipu Moni “We have educational institutions under MPO, for which a code of conduct has been proposed. We think this is a good proposal. We will work on it,” she said. The DCs also talked about separating secondary and higher education, she said. “We feel that if we separate it, the synergies will reduce. So we have to think more about this issue.” They (DCs) also recommended changing the vacation time in the educational institutions of Haor region through creating a flexible calendar, as different regions of the country get flooded at different times. “We are already working on creating a separate calendar with everything in mind,” said the education minister. Besides, the DCs suggested a full-time television channel on education, she added. Read more: New curriculum books may contain mistakes: Dipu Moni Another proposal made by the DCs is to change the designation of education officers after specifying as District Education Officer, Upazila Education Officer, District Primary Education Officer, Upazila Secondary Education Officer, District Secondary Education Officer, Upazila Secondary Education Officer. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the three-day conference of deputy commissioners (DCs) at Shapla Hall of her office here in the city.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday opened the three-day annual conference of the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) at Shapla Hall of her office here in the city. This time there will be a total of 26 sessions, including 20 working sessions, with various ministries in the DC Conference-2023 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. Read: World keeps silent as Afghan govt stops education for women: PM Hasina In the conference the DCs will exchange views with the relevant ministries for the implementation of various policies, strategies and instructions of the government. 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. A total of 245 proposals have been received from various ministries and deputy commissioners this year, officials said. Read: Raise own funds for development: PM Hasina urges public universities State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain, Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain, Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner GSM Jafarullah, and Deputy Commissioners of Narsingdi and Bandarban Abu Nayeem Mohammed Maruf Khan and Yasmin Parvin Tibriji spoke at the inaugural session of the DC Conference.

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.