Ensure rights of every citizen: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the fresh civil service officers to work with utmost sincerity, integrity and honesty to ensure welfare and rights of the citizens.

"You'll have to always keep in mind that people are the owner of this republic. So it's your responsibility for ensuring welfare and rights of every citizen of the country," she said.

The prime minister was addressing as the chief guest the certificate awarding ceremony of the 63rd Foundation Training Course of Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre and five other government institutions at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre here yesterday evening.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Minister for Public Administration Syed Ashraful Islam, State Minister Ismat Ara Sadique and Senior Secretary of the Public Administration Ministry Dr Mozammel Haque Khan addressed the function as the special guests, while BPATC Rector ALM Abdur Rahman chaired it.

Sanjida Parvin of BCS Administration Cadre and Khan Mohammad Salehin of BCS Agriculture Cadre also spoke at the function expressing their feelings about the six-month foundation training.

The prime minister also asked the fresh civil service officers for properly implementing the development projects initiated by the government.

"You will have to keep special attention so that each and every penny of the development projects is spent properly and the people get real benefit from it."

Asserting that her government wants to make the service delivery more developed and easy through massive use of technology, Sheikh Hasina said that efforts are on to enhance the efficiency of the civil servants through imparting necessary training in this regard.

To ensure better public services, the prime minister said that her government has been decentralizing the local government to ensure public services for the huge population of the country as well as their socioeconomic development.

Recalling the great contributions of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to rebuilding the war-ravaged country, the premier said had Bangabandhu been alive, Bangladesh could have been a prosperous and developed country like Singapore much earlier.

"Then, Bangladesh could have been an example of development in the world. We must have to complete the unfinished task of Bangabandhu and that's our goal," she added.

Referring to the implementation of the Padma Bridge project with own funding, the prime minister said she believes that if there is sincerity and patriotism, then any task could be accomplished.

Sheikh Hasina hoped that the public servants who received training would properly apply their knowledge and skill after returning to the workplace.

"I hope you would make efforts to serve the people and demonstrate patriotism as well nurture and uphold the great spirit of the liberation war," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the Father of the Nation had constituted Administrative Services Re-Organization Committee to establish service-oriented and efficient civil service.

"Bangabandhu had appointed governors in every district upgrading all the sub-divisions to districts aimed at reaching government services to the door steps of the people," she said.

The prime minister said after assuming office in 1996 after long 21 years, her party Awami League started work for the development of the country and formed Public Administration Reform Commission to improve efficiency in the civil services.

"Some of the recommendations of the commission have already been implemented, and the Privatisation Commission and the Board of Investment was merged," she said.

Besides, she said, upazila system reintroduced and the upazila polls were completed and for the first time in the country's history, the district council elections were held successfully.

The prime minister said the government has raised the salary of government officers and employees by up to 123 percent and introduced Bangla Nababarsha festival allowance.

"The government services have become more attractive in terms of salary and allowances and meritorious students are attracted to it," she said.

The prime minister said that her government introduced "Public Administration Padak" in recognition of the efficiency and innovative works of the civil servants and made arrangement for their timely promotion. Earlier, the premier handed over the Rector Awards and certificates to three officers and Director General Awards to three others for their best performance in the training course.

She also distributed certificates and merit medals among 24 fresh civil service officers out of 567 officers of 18 cadres recruited through Bangladesh Civil Service examinations.

Source: BSS