President asks DCs to work neutrally

President Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday called for developing an efficient and professionally experienced disciplined work force suitable for public administration in the 21st century.

"Impartial, just and skilled public administration is the main foundation of a democratic ruling system," he said while addressing the deputy commissioners and the divisional commissioners at Bangabhaban in the morning.

So a strong, accountable and welfare-oriented institutional infrastructure would have to be built up for the public administration, the president said.

He mentioned that the government was trying to give institutional shape to the democratic ruling system in all spheres.

He said the DCs, being government representatives, are the kingpins at the field level as they perform their duties simultaneously as deputy commissioner, district magistrate and collector.

President Iajuddin Ahmed termed the DCs as the coordinator of all development works of the government at the district level and asked them to prove themselves as people's servants through their merit, honesty, impartiality, justness and efficiency.

He said that since its independence Bangladesh was mostly dependent on foreign aid for its development budget. Such dependence on foreign aid has been reduced considerably by increasing revenue collection, export earning and foreign remittance.

In the current fiscal year, 55 per cent of the development budget is likely to be financed from domestic resources, the president said pointing to the role of the DCs in revenue collection for making the country self-reliant.

He said the responsibility of collecting land revenue, income tax and other government dues falls on the DCs as district collector and certificate officer.

Referring to their role in the restoration of law and order in the country as district magistrate, President Iajuddin Ahmed asked the DCs to ensure that the magistrates pay more attention to the quick disposal of cases. He reminded them of the maxim: "Justice delayed is justice denied."

The president said the government has taken measures to hasten the trial of sensational cases as a step to improve the law and order situation. This has resulted in the disposal of many sensational cases within only four to five months.

The government has attached highest priority to improving the law and order situation and curb crime, he said adding that the Speedy Trial Act 2002 and the Speedy Trial Tribunal Ordinance 2002 have been enacted to protect public property.

Laying importance on removing illiteracy and poverty as well as ensuring quality education in the shortest possible time, the president asked the DCs to play their due role in this regard.

Cabinet Secretary Sa'dat Hussain conducted the function, where secretaries of different ministries were also present.