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PM asks for top security to man key installations

Orders speedy trial for bomb-terrors, asks for measures to check price spiral during secretariat visit

Unb, Dhaka
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday asked for tightening security on priority basis for the secretariat and all other important installations across the country in view of the recent terror strikes.
She also directed the top-brass government officials to guard against corruption, misappropriation, sale and marketing of adulterated food and
other ills as part of the drives for cleansing society of various sorts of malpractice.
Offices, courts as well as all establishments and buildings at national and local levels will come under the security blanket, the prime minister ordered.
Apart from the August 17 countrywide bomb blasts and October 3 court bombings by suspected militants in three districts, there have been reports of threats to blow up establishments in
some districts.
“In the perspective of various recent incidents, security has to be ensured on priority basis for the secretariat and country's important establishments, such as offices-courts, field-level establishments and buildings. You have to take necessary steps through consultation with respective heads of department and office,” she told a meeting with secretaries. It was the 9th regular meeting with secretaries, held in the conference room of the Cabinet Division at Bangladesh Secretariat.
At the meeting, the prime minister directed the authorities to expedite the disposal of bomb-terrorism cases through speedy trial tribunal to ensure punishment of the real terrors arrested in connection with the recent incidents.
She asked the officials concerned, especially the home secretary, to make sure that none of those already arrested for 'bomb-terrorism' can go scot-free.
The prime minister also gave important instructions for “strategic market interventions” in arresting the price hike of essentials.
She asked the secretaries of the ministries concerned to address the difficulties responsible for pushing up the prices of essential commodities.
In this context, she asked for bringing goods from north Bengal under special arrangement by Silk City express train, strengthening buffer organisations like BADC, TCB, and civil supply to control prices of essentials.
Mentioning the allocation of Tk 25,273 crore in development budget, the prime minister stressed the need for more attentiveness in projectimplementation work from the first quarter of the current fiscal year for proper utilisation of the funds.
“Spending will have to be ensured in proportion to the real progress of the projects. Development projects also have to be implemented in stipulated time and within the approved cost limit,” she said, asking for regular monitoring of the progress of the projects.
Khaleda cited the ongoing drive against production, sale and marketing of adulterated food harmful to public health that earned praise from all quarters.
Stressing the need for such mopping-up operation against malpractice in offices, the prime minister said the same “built-in-vigilance system” will have to be set up in all ministries and departments against irregularities and misuse of public property.
Spelling out another directive, she said the dependence of field- level offices on the secretariat will have to be reduced in case of taking minor decisions regarding implementation of government programmes.
“A work that can be done at local level will have to be finished there,” the prime minister said, apparently underlining the imperative of devolution of power in such cases.
She asked for speeding up work through ensuring more responsibility and decentralisation of duties. The monitoring activities of departments and offices will have to be strengthened, she said.
Khaleda mentioned that her government completed four years this month and stepped into the fifth year by fulfilling most of the election pledges. “In some cases, we are advancing and some pledges are in the process of implementation. Hopefully, it will be possible to fulfil all pledges in the remaining period with the cooperation of all,” she said.
Cabinet Secretary Saadat Hussain conducted the meeting attended by 46 secretaries of different ministries. Of
them, 24 secretaries spoke on the occasion. The last meeting of the prime minister with the secretaries was held in December 2004.
In yesterday's three-and-a-half-hour-long meeting the prime minister told the government officials to be frugal in the use of electricity and fuel in offices and emphasised logical usage of government transport pools.
“Unnecessary expenditures and misuse at all levels of government works should be stopped and you have to ensure propriety in spending as principal accounting officers of the government,” she told the secretaries.
She said the successes of the government in the social sector have been praised by all quarters and the present effort to alleviate poverty and become self-reliant will have to be continued.
The prime minister further suggested taking initiative to face any disaster like tsunami, hurricane and earthquakes through formulating necessary action plans and their implementation.
She stressed the need of introduction of e-governance in all ministries, divisions and subordinate offices to increase transparency and accountability in government function.
Listing various measures already undertaken she mentioned that the poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP) has been approved in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations.
An Independent Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) has been set up to ensure good governance and transparency in all sectors. And step has been taken to appoint tax ombudsman to ensure transparency and accountability in tax administration and to solve the complaints of taxpayers within a short period.
The prime minister said the government introduced new pay scale for the government officials as per election pledges despite resource constraints.