Dhaka, February 16 — The success of the interim government will largely depend on maintaining the law and order situation in the country, said Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus at the inauguration of the Deputy Commissioners’ (DC) Conference on Saturday.
Addressing the three-day conference at the Shapla Hall of the Chief Adviser’s Office in Dhaka, Prof. Yunus stressed that ensuring peace and order is the government’s top priority in the current situation. He urged the DCs to be vigilant in their duties and not fail in upholding law and order.
“The most important task right now is maintaining peace and order. This is the government’s top priority, so DCs must ensure that nothing interferes with this goal,” Yunus emphasized.
The Chief Adviser also highlighted the government’s commitment to protecting the rights of women, children, and minorities, directing the DCs to work diligently in these areas. He called for a unified approach, urging all parts of the country to work as one team towards achieving success. “Nothing should be done that would hamper the entire team’s success,” he added.
Yunus urged the DCs to exercise their judgment and ignore external threats while maintaining strict law and order and strengthening market monitoring. He stressed the importance of coordination between the police and civil administration, calling for discipline in their operations.
In a bid to improve market monitoring, Prof. Yunus suggested creating a system of ranking district administrations based on their effectiveness in overseeing markets, offering recognition for their efforts.
Focus on Online Land Registration
The Chief Adviser also addressed the issue of the online land registration process, which has faced implementation challenges. “The land registration process has been made online, but why is it not being implemented? Where is the problem?” he asked, urging authorities to address the issue and ensure the system operates smoothly.
He further directed the DCs to pay attention to primary education and resolve any issues related to the sector.
End to Police Verification for Passports
In a notable policy shift, Prof. Yunus announced that police verification will no longer be required to obtain a passport. He described the verification process as harassment and emphasized that a passport is a citizen’s right, akin to other identity documents such as birth certificates and National IDs, which do not require police verification.
“A passport is part of a citizen’s rights, just like a birth certificate or National ID. Why should police verification be required? These procedures are unnecessary and serve only as harassment,” Yunus stated. He added that steps would be taken to prevent any harassment during passport issuance.
Additionally, Prof. Yunus addressed the issue of birth certificates, calling it a fundamental right for citizens. He stressed that delays in obtaining birth certificates must be eliminated, pointing out that if unofficial channels can expedite the process for a fee, the government should be able to provide a more efficient system without any charge.
“A birth certificate is a citizen’s right, and the government must ensure that it is easily accessible,” Yunus said.
DC Conference Discussions
The ongoing DC Conference, which began on February 16, will feature 354 proposals from DCs and divisional commissioners. Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid outlined the structure of the conference, which includes four special and 30 working sessions. The conference will also feature a meeting with the Chief Justice, an open discussion with Prof. Yunus, and a session with the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association.
During the conference, the DCs proposed the creation of the Legal Affairs Liaison Officer post in the offices of 64 DCs and eight divisional commissioners to enhance their legal powers. Although 1,245 proposals were submitted, some were not included due to disagreements with the relevant ministries or being previously discussed at past conferences.
As part of the DC Conference, there will be a dinner with the Chief Adviser on the evening of February 16, followed by a meeting between the DCs and the Chief Justice at the Supreme Court auditorium on February 17.
The conference remains an important event for addressing administrative concerns and streamlining the governance system across the country.
 Conference on Saturday.){kind=link}