Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan on Saturday called on the elected government and public representatives to move quickly and effectively to meet people’s expectations, saying they would ultimately have to answer to voters for their performance. His current portfolio is confirmed by the government’s August cabinet reshuffle.
He was speaking as chief guest at a review meeting on solar power, dengue prevention and development programmes organised by the Local Government Division at the multipurpose hall of the Cooperative Building in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, the ministry said in a press release. A separate report on the same-day meeting also confirmed the venue and agenda.
Moyeen Khan said elected representatives had received a mandate from voters and would face their judgement again after five years.
Ensuring public services and remaining accountable for their actions were therefore responsibilities of an elected government, he said.
The minister said government officials and elected representatives shared the same objective of serving people and should ensure the best use of limited resources while speeding up development work.
He identified solar power as a potential part of the solution to electricity shortages, calling for panels to be installed on the roofs of union parishad and upazila parishad buildings as well as encouraging households in rural areas to adopt the technology.
Surplus electricity generated during the day could be stored in batteries for use at night, reducing dependence on the national grid, he said.
State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari, speaking as a special guest, stressed honesty, transparency and efficiency in delivering government services and implementing development projects at grassroots level. His current role has also been reported in recent public records.
Bari said integrity and professional performance were being prioritised in postings and promotions. He urged field administration officials to treat their places of posting as their own communities and carry out their duties with commitment.
State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam said upazila administrations would play an important role in implementing the government’s welfare programmes. His designation is consistent with recent official and state-media references.
He said Family Cards and Farmer Cards would be distributed to all families and farmers in phases over the next four years, while licences for fertiliser dealers would be issued after the dealer list was verified.
On infrastructure, Shahe Alam called for the use of CC and uni-blocks instead of bricks on small rural roads, drainage systems for roads in haat-bazaar and port areas and safe distances between roads and ponds being excavated alongside them.
He said laws and regulations were being prepared for the registration of easy-bikes.
The government should also assess the potential to produce organic fertiliser and electricity from waste, he said, while encouraging educational institutions to organise annual sports and cultural competitions.
Shahe Alam called for administrations, puja committees and social security committees to work together to ensure peaceful celebrations of Durga Puja.
He also urged upazila nirbahi officers to work sincerely to help ensure free, fair and impartial local government elections expected to begin in January.
The Election Commission said in late September that it was considering starting local government elections in January after annual examinations in November and December.
Shahe Alam also called for stronger action against drugs and corruption and proposed holding a conference of UNOs every year.
Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani attended the meeting. The Cabinet Division lists him as the incumbent cabinet secretary.
Also present were Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar, Public Administration Secretary Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, Local Government Division Secretary Md Shahidul Hasan, Rural Development and Cooperatives Division Secretary Rafiqul E Mohamed, Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khalek and Power Division Secretary Mirana Mahrukh.
Their current positions are confirmed by the respective government offices.
Chief executive officers of all city corporations, deputy directors of local government at district level, upazila nirbahi officers and municipal administrators also attended.
