The government has assigned ministers, state ministers and ruling party lawmakers to oversee and coordinate law and order, anti-corruption and anti-drug efforts, good governance, transparency and accountability, as well as development and public welfare activities across the country.
The Cabinet Division issued a notification today assigning 30 ruling party MPs, including ministers and state ministers, responsibility for 64 districts.
Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani signed the notification by order of the president.
The notification said the ministers, state ministers and lawmakers concerned will oversee and coordinate overall government activities in their assigned districts without curtailing the legal powers of local government institutions and other constitutional and statutory bodies.
The government said the cabinet formed after the 13th national election had long observed with deep concern that, during the previous “fascist regime”, development allocations in different districts existed on paper, while funds were looted through widespread corruption.
The notification said part of the looted money was smuggled abroad, while another part was used inside the country for drugs and activities that contributed to social decline and posed threats to public and national security.
It said sustainable development, good governance, transparency, accountability and eliminating corruption are among the current government’s priority programmes.
According to the notification, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmood has been given responsibility for Rajshahi and Natore districts.
Women, Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md Zahid Hossain has been given responsibility for Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Panchagarh.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has been given responsibility for Lakshmipur, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury for Chuadanga, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir for Habiganj, and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury for Moulvibazar.
Water Resources Minister Md Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee has been given responsibility for Chattogram district. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat has been given responsibility for Sherpur, Mymensingh and Netrokona, while Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu has been given responsibility for Thakurgaon and Dinajpur.
Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman has been given responsibility for Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat, while Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher has been given responsibility for Feni and Noakhali.
Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has been given responsibility for Manikganj and Munshiganj, Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Saching Prue for Cox’s Bazar and State Minister for Commerce Md Shariful Alam for Tangail and Narsingdi.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed has been given responsibility for Madaripur and Shariatpur. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit has been given responsibility for Meherpur, Kushtia and Jhenaidah, while State Minister for Public Administration Abdul Bari has been given responsibility for Bogura and Chapainawabganj.
State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku has been given responsibility for Dhaka district. State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin has been given responsibility for the three hill districts of Khagrachhari, Bandarban and Rangamati.
State Minister for Road Transport and Bridges and Railways Habibur Rashid has been given responsibility for Gazipur and Narayanganj, State Minister for Shipping and Bridges Md Rajib Ahsan for Barguna, Patuakhali and Pirojpur, and State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam for Rangpur, Gaibandha and Kurigram.
State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin has been given responsibility for Sirajganj and Pabna, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam for Jashore, Magura and Narail, and State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Chowdhury for Jamalpur and Kishoreganj.
State Minister for Housing and Public Works Ahmed Sohel Manjur has been given responsibility for Barishal, Bhola and Jhalakathi. State Minister for Religious Affairs Mohammad Shamim Kaiser has been given responsibility for Joypurhat and Naogaon, while Whip Md GK Gaus has been given responsibility for Sylhet and Sunamganj.
Shariatpur-3 MP Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu has been given responsibility for Rajbari, Faridpur and Gopalganj, while Lakshmipur-4 MP ABM Ashraf Uddin has been given responsibility for Brahmanbaria, Cumilla and Chandpur.
The notification has set out three areas of responsibility for the ministers, state ministers and MPs assigned to the districts.
First, they will provide necessary advice to the government offices concerned to maintain the overall law-and-order situation in the districts, including controlling drug abuse and illegal drug trafficking, preventing smuggling and curbing serious crimes.
Second, they will oversee and provide advice on the implementation of the government’s election manifesto, poverty reduction, employment generation, social safety net programmes, and various development and public welfare activities.
Third, those assigned responsibility may, when necessary, attend different district-level meetings and provide advice.
The notification also set out the constitutional and legal basis for assigning these responsibilities.
Referring to Article 55(2) of the constitution, it said the executive power of the republic will be exercised by or under the authority of the prime minister in accordance with the constitution.
It also referred to Rule 33 of Chapter V of the Rules of Business, saying the prime minister may, if considered necessary, allow or approve a departure from the rules in any case or cases.
The notification said the matters were discussed in detail in the cabinet and decisions were taken under Rule 4(ii) of Chapter I, Rule 16(ix)(e) and Rule 16(xii) of Chapter II of the Rules of Business.
It also referred to a High Court judgment in a writ petition from 2003, saying that, according to the meaning of that judgment, such distribution of responsibility falls within the authority of the government.
The government said assigning these responsibilities will not curtail the legal powers of local government institutions or any other constitutional or statutory body.
