S. M. Mizanur Rahman :The Deputy Commissioners (DCs) have been asked to fight militancy and terrorism first at their respective districts and take it as a major condition of their job. “The high commands of the government have set condition on DCs to eradicate militancy and terrorism first,” Cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam told journalists after the end of a four-day conference held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in the city.Apart from district towns, he said, DCs, the executive heads of the districts, have also been asked to go to remote areas to oversee the village youths’ activities and talk to their guardians. “Short films based on documents and facts about the deadly activities of the militants and terrors will be screened at the field level,” the Cabinet Secretary said.The DCs have been instructed to air programme on militancy and terrorism through community radio in order to make people conscious about their deadly activities. They will also have to form committees at grassroots level to track down the perpetrators of terrorism and to motivate the guardians to take care of their children from being spoiled. Being important officers at the field level, the DCs have a crucial role in mobilizing people of all walks of life against terrorism. They must apply highest merit, wit, efficiency and strength to tackle the terror activities in the country.In the four days conference, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her senior Cabinet Members including Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu and Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan echoing the same arguments asked them to go tough on militants.In the inaugural session Sheikh Hasina gave 19-point directives to the DC asking them to discharge their duties with more caution and firmness in maintaining peace, discipline and stability in all spheres of life through eradicating militancy, terrorism and communalism.Law Minister Anisul Huq on Friday directed DCs to contact the ministry’s cell that monitors cases against militants if it appears the prosecution is not properly assisting the judiciary in the trial of militants. He said this while talking to journalists at the Secretariat after attending a session on the last day of the four-day conference at the PMO. “The DCs were instructed to inform the Law Ministry cell that monitors cases against militants… if they find the prosecution not cooperating with the judiciary during their trial, we’ll take steps,” he said.Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said as the employees of the republic it is the Constitutional duty of the DCs to play due role in curbing militancy and establishing good governance. “Now we’re fighting for curbing militancy, ensuring development and establishing good governance and the DCs can play role in this fight as directed in the Constitution,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat after addressing a session of the concluding day of the four days conference.Apart from militancy and terrorism issues, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan on Friday asked the DCs to take effective measures to stop illegal sand lifting from rivers across the country and to curb their pollution and encroachment as well.The minister said this while talking to reporters at the Secretariat after attending the morning session of the DCs conference. Cabinet Members, PM’s advisors, PM’s Principal Secretary, secretaries of different Ministries and Divisional Commissioners attended the function.The DCs Conference is an annual event organized by Cabinet Division where administrative chiefs of districts and government policymakers interact on development and governance issues and set out priorities and guidelines for work for the subsequent one year.
