The first deputy commissioners (DC) conference under the BNP government, which took office after winning the February election, opens on Sunday, with officials saying proposals will focus on implementing election pledges, strengthening healthcare, and improving local infrastructure.
The four-day conference, organised annually by the Cabinet Division, will bring together DCs from across the country to discuss policy priorities and field-level challenges. Cabinet Division officials said most proposals reflect demands from the grassroots, with a strong emphasis on public service delivery.
At a press briefing at the Secretariat on Saturday, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani said the conference carries added importance as “it is the first since a democratically elected government assumed office.”
He said the government had set a budget of Tk71 lakh for the event as part of austerity measures, down from more than Tk1 crore spent last year.
Proposals have also been put forward to ensure DCs can work free from political influence, he added.
“Most proposals focus on improving the health sector,” the cabinet secretary said. “These include ensuring the availability of antivenom injections in hospitals, providing at least one ambulance for every upazila health complex, introducing systems to check misinformation on social media, and appointing adequate doctors and staff in district prisons.”
The conference will begin at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the Secretariat area, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman scheduled to inaugurate the event at 10:30am on Sunday.
The opening day will include an open discussion between the prime minister and DCs, followed by a photo session. Later, proposals placed by the deputy commissioners will be discussed.
Each year, deputy commissioners present a wide range of proposals to the government’s top policymakers, highlighting field-level challenges and suggesting ways to improve public administration and service delivery. The government reviews these discussions and often takes follow-up action based on the recommendations.
Officials at the Cabinet Division said a total of 1,729 proposals have been submitted this year by divisional commissioners and DCs from all 64 districts. Of these, 498 proposals have been selected for detailed discussion during the conference.
Joint Secretary at the Cabinet Division (field administration) Mohammad Khorshed Alam Khan told TIMES of Bangladesh that several DCs have proposed increasing bed capacity in upazila and district-level hospitals to improve healthcare access.
“The Gazipur deputy commissioner has proposed establishing an economic zone in the district to bring industrial activities under a single location,” he said.
According to Cabinet Division sources, the proposals broadly focus on reducing public suffering, improving land management, expanding public and healthcare services, and building roads and bridges.
As part of the programme, DCs are also scheduled to hold courtesy meetings with President Mohammed Shahabuddin, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, the chiefs of armed forces, and Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.
