Government's 'No' to DCs' Proposal

The DC conference started on Tuesday. The deputy commissioner suggested setting up a committee at the district level to oversee development projects. However, Planning Minister MA Mannan rejected the suggestion.

After the second session of the three-day DC conference on Tuesday (January 18th), the minister told reporters that the deputy commissioners had asked for increased capacity or oversight to implement projects at the district level. But we did not agree. Under the existing law, already deputy commissioners have that power. They can inquire about any project at any time.

"We are working at the departmental level to strengthen IMED to increase oversight of development projects," he said. Offices of the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) will be opened in each division.

The minister said the deputy commissioners have also been instructed to be careful in using the word 'assistance'. Because the amount of assistance that our development partners provide is very small. We take out loans and repay them on time. So, they are our development partners, not donors.

The planning minister said the assistance of DCs is legally required for land acquisition. We have highlighted that. Land acquisition is one of the major reasons for the delay in project implementation. There are also some legal issues. I asked for their help to make it faster. They are helping. According to an earlier order of the Prime Minister, the Deputy Commissioners have been informed about the government's initiative to set up an Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division or IMED at the division level.

"We have an executive order from the head of government to set up an IMED office at the grassroots level," Mannan said. IMED installations should be made at the field level. We will have offices at the departmental level. We have sought the help of the head of the division to implement it. There are plans to spread IMED. Besides, plant trees, do not kill animals, the bridges over the river should have proper height, make the road straight - we have suggested that these instructions of the Prime Minister should be followed. The file for setting up IMED offices at the division level is being circulated between the Ministry of Public Administration and the Ministry of Finance, which is still in progress. Time will tell.

This time the venue of the DC conference is Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital. The conference is taking place two years later due to the epidemic. The conference will end on January 20. Minister for Liberation War Affairs AKM Mozammel Haque, Chief Secretary Dr Ahmed Kaikaus and Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Mohammad Kamrul Hasan addressed the DC conference. Later a video documentary on field-level administration activities was shown. Then the Prime Minister gave a speech.

Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam said 263 proposals had been received from the deputy commissioners and divisional commissioners on the occasion of the DC conference.

The DC Conference is organized every year to provide a face-to-face exchange of views and necessary directions between the policymakers and the Deputy Commissioners of the Government.