Deputy commissioners who will play a role in boosting the country's export earnings will get incentives, a foreign trip along with awards, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said yesterday.

The minister said Bangladesh's total exports, which now stand at nearly US $35 billion, would reach US $60 billion by 2021.

“So, the DCs have a major role to play to boost export earnings under the One District One Product (ODOP) project,” he said.

The minister was speaking at a three-day conference of DCs at the cabinet division in Dhaka. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the conference on Tuesday.

In order to expand the export basket, the government has selected 14 products in 41 districts under the ODOP scheme, the minister said, adding that the DCs would take pragmatic steps in this regard. He said the producers of the selected items would be given 20 percent cash incentive.

“If any DC displays an extraordinary contribution in boosting exports, he or she will be offered a foreign trip as an incentive,” he said.

The minister also instructed the DCs to work sincerely to keep prices of essential commodities within the purchasing power of consumers.

He said the government has to protect the rights of consumers by stopping the spiraling of prices, price manipulation by a section of unscrupulous traders and food adulteration.

Ahmed also asked the DCs to be sincere while performing their duties so that businessmen do not face harassment.

“The DCs should act in a way that businesspeople feel inspired to do business honestly.”