DC Conference: Good governance starts with you

He urges them to reject corruption, work on election pledges

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday warned district administrators that his government would make no compromise with corruption, while directing them to set aside personal career ambitions and focus on delivering public services efficiently across the country.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the four-day Deputy Commissioners’ Conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital, the prime minister called good governance the cornerstone of his administration and held the field bureaucracy accountable for making it a reality.

“We are striving to make good governance the foundation of state administration.

Good governance requires efficient management, capable leadership and, of course, accountability,” he said.

“The government’s position against corruption is clear. We do not want to compromise with corruption.”

The conference, the first DC conference since the Bangladesh Nationalist Party formed government after securing an overwhelming majority in the February election, brought together deputy commissioners of all 64 districts alongside divisional commissioners, cabinet members, service chiefs and senior officials.

In unusually direct remarks, Tarique took aim at what he described as a culture of chasing preferred postings — a practice he said had long corroded the professionalism and neutrality of Bangladesh’s civil service.

“The mentality of always wanting appointment or posting in preferred positions is one of the main reasons for making government officials corrupt and unprofessional,” he said.

“If professionalism is compromised only for promotion or posting in one’s preferred place, you may benefit temporarily, but it negatively affects the efficiency and neutrality of public administration as a whole.”

He urged DCs to consider every posting and position in public administration as important and to remain mentally prepared to serve anywhere in the country at any time.

On accountability in recruitment, transfers and promotions, Tarique said the government was committed to ensuring transparency — including swift filling of vacant posts, strengthening the Public Service Commission, and introducing clear private service rules.

The prime minister described DCs as the principal bridge between the government and the citizens it serves, and as one of the key driving forces behind delivering on the BNP’s election manifesto and the July Charter signed before the public.

“We want to implement, step by step, every clause and every commitment. We are fully committed to this goal,” he said, calling on DCs to translate those pledges into tangible benefits at the grassroots level.

“The success of the activities undertaken by the government depends entirely on your honesty, efficiency and sense of responsibility.”

He also directed officials not to hide behind excessive laws, regulations or bureaucratic red tape.

“We should foster, at every level of administration, a mindset of taking realistic, effective and public-interest-oriented decisions, so that people can receive the intended benefits of government programmes on time,” he said.

Tarique acknowledged that the BNP government had begun its tenure under severe strain, describing the economic and administrative situation it inherited as among the most challenging in the country’s history.

“With your cooperation, we have been able to change much of that situation in these two and a half months,” he said, adding that the ongoing regional war had placed additional pressure on the new administration.

“Perhaps no country in the world has been spared from the war situation at this moment.

Our effort is how we can together face the situation without increasing the suffering of the people.”

He cited the rollout of the Family Card, Farmer Card, sports initiatives and monthly honorariums for imams and muezzins as early examples of policy delivery through the district administration.

Commending the role of officials in the February election, the prime minister said: “You have proved in the 12 February election that if public administration works properly, the people’s verdict is definitely reflected.”

The conference, which began at 10:30am, will continue through 6 May.