Prime minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday called for building a people-oriented administration to ensure faster, transparent and harassment-free services for citizens.
‘The administration must be made people-oriented and much of that depends on your role. Our government wants an administration where ordinary people receive services at government offices with respect, quickly, transparently and without harassment. It is you who must ensure this,’ he told deputy commissioners.
The prime minister made the remarks while addressing the annual gathering-2026 of the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar of Agargaon in Dhaka.
He also called upon the deputy commissioners and divisional commissioners to work impartially and without fear for the welfare of the country and its people.
‘Work without fear and impartially for the welfare of the country and its people. The government will provide active support to your lawful and humane initiatives,’ he said.
Tarique Rahman described public trust as the state’s greatest asset, saying, ‘It grows gradually through transparency and accountability in government and administration.’
‘I strongly believe you will remain careful about this. We must remember that the administration is not just a tool for enforcing the law; rather, it is a means of serving the people,’ he observed.
The prime minister said that he also strongly believed that although the country faced numerous challenges, it also had significant potential. ‘If we can make use of our country’s demographic dividend and turn our young and working-age population into a skilled workforce, this population will become a valuable resource. They can transform our Bangladesh.’
He urged the deputy commissioners and divisional commissioners to work with a mentality of helping people as much as possible. ‘We also need to find all possible ways to uphold the religious and social values of our state and society. We must be guided by strong family values.’
‘We should remember that the smallest unit of a state is the family. In the same way, a state is made up of many families. So, if families uphold religious and social values, national values will also become stronger,’ Tarique Rahman added.
The event was held marking the conclusion of the four-day Deputy Commissioners’ Conference 2026, which began at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium on May 3.
During the conference, ministers and officials from different ministries held sessions with the DCs, providing guidelines and responding to their queries.
DCs and divisional commissioners also met president Mohammed Shahabuddin and chief justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury during the conference.
The closing event was organised by the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association, where the prime minister attended as chief guest.
Prime minister’s wife Zubaida Rahman, cabinet members and the chiefs of the three services were also present.
At the programme, association’s president Kaniz Mowla and general secretary Babul Miah presented a crest to the prime minister.
Adviser Ismail Zabihullah, state minister for public administration Abdul Bari, cabinet secretary Nasimul Ghani and principal secretary to the prime minister ABM Abdus Sattar, among others, also spoke at the event.
The prime minister also attended a cultural programme and a dinner after the discussion.
