Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed deputy commissioners to strengthen monitoring of militant activities, and prices of essential commodities.
She also told them to deal with iron hands encroachments on rivers, canals, and other water bodies, and to work with district and upazila level public representatives to boost development activities.
"As administrators you must take measures so none can destabilise the country, and at the same time you must work as friends of the people, whose taxes pay for your salaries," said the premier while addressing the inaugural session of a three-day DC conference in the International Conference Centre of the Prime Ministers' Office.
In her 55-minute speech on subjects related to the central government and local issues, she said, "We have restored democracy overcoming many obstacles. Remain alert, so the hard-earned democracy is not hindered by any quarter. We want peoples' representatives to rule the country, and democracy to continue functioning."
Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League accused that the last BNP-Jamaat government gave rise to militancy, sponsored militants, and through them blasted bombs simultaneously at 500 spots in the country, besmirching Bangladesh's global image.
"But our government will leave no room for militants. You will have to work in coordination with law enforcement agencies, so there is no militancy in the country," she said.
About price hike of essentials, the prime minister instructed the DCs to monitor demand, supply, and the stock situation, so syndicates of unscrupulous traders cannot hike prices of essentials through market manipulation during the month of Ramadan.
Expressing astonishment over sudden price hikes sometimes even amid sufficient stocks, she directed them to taker tough actions against black marketers and hoarders. She said the government is thinking of starting purchasing not only rice but also paddy directly from farmers next year.
Saying that Bangladesh is the most vulnerable to global warming, Hasina categorically asked the DCs to keep a close watch, so none can encroach upon government lands, and fill up rivers, lakes, canals and other water bodies across the country.
"At any cost, all water bodies of the country have to be preserved," she said instructing the DCs to take steps to stop illegal set up of brick kilns, and illegal extraction of sand from rivers. She also instructed them to encourage the people to plant trees to save the environment.
The premier directed them to be stricter in implementing the existing environment protection laws.
In that regard Hasina also emphasised on river dredging. She asked the DCs to involve the people in dredging works under government work relief programmes.
The prime minister said, "Navigability of rivers must be protected, you must be careful in leasing out water bodies, and to that end drives against encroachers must be strengthened." She also emphasised on increasing reliance on surface level water than ground water.
Hasina said the government is thinking of preparing district level budget allocations, and asked the DCs to prepare budgets and development programmes for respective districts. The prime minister directed the ministers and secretaries, who were present at the conference, to complete required paper works within three months, so the announced budgetary targets can be met successfully.
The prime minister asked the DCs to phone her directly if they face any serious trouble in implementing the government's development plans. She directed them to care more about land record management so rural people are not ruined by land ownership dispute cases.
About the DCs' demand to bring changes to the law regarding contempt of court, to save them from harassment on such charges, which they claimed they face frequently, Hasina said a special fund could be formed to help them deal with such cases.
Prime Minister's Adviser HT Imam, Cabinet Secretary M Abdul Aziz, Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Md Serajul Huq Khan, Dhaka District DC Md Mohibul Haque, Panchagarh DC Bonamali Bhowmik, and Naogaon DC Dr Musammat Nazmanara Khanum also spoke.
The Dhaka DC urged the premier to bestow more power on DCs in relation to activities to check price hike of essentials. He also drew the prime minister's attention to the necessity for modernising district land offices to ease public sufferings over land records inquiry.
The Chittagong divisional commissioner urged the government to enact strict laws against hill cutting and tree felling, with stern punishment for such activities.