To implement its commitment to deliver services to the doorsteps of the people, the Chittagong Deputy Commissioner has started a groundbreaking initiative—public hearing at the marginal level.
This exceptional event was held on Tuesday morning at the premises of Salimpur union parishad no. 10 of Sitakunda upazila organized by the upazila administration of Sitakunda.
Chittagong DC and District Magistrate Farida Khanam was the chief guest at the event where Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Md. Sadi Ur Rahim Jadid was the special guest. Upazila Executive Officer Md. Fakhrul Islam presided over the event. Heads of various government departments of the upazila were present at the event.
As many as 75 of 191 union parishads in Chittagong district do not have any public representatives, they are being managed through administrators. To address this challenge, the district administration has taken a unique initiative—going directly to the union level to listen to the problems of the people and providing immediate solutions. This is not just providing administrative services, but a unique effort to establish the administration more firmly at the center of public trust.
In the day-long public hearing, the common people of Salimpur Union raised various problems and complaints. The Deputy Commissioner listened to them attentively and instructed the officials of the concerned departments to resolve the issues that could be resolved immediately. Land-related complications, healthcare, improving the quality of education, road repair, electricity connection, law and order and drug control—these issues mainly came up in the public hearing.
In the case of complex problems, the Deputy Commissioner assured that they would be resolved in phases. If necessary, he also said that initiatives would be taken to resolve them by contacting the concerned ministry.
It is known that, as per the instructions of the Cabinet Division, the Deputy Commissioner holds public hearings in his office every Wednesday. However, this time, by bringing the activities to the field level and reaching the people, the Chittagong District Administration has set a new example. In this, the people got the opportunity to talk directly to the administration, which will play a groundbreaking role in establishing good governance and improving the quality of services.
Speaking at the public hearing, Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam said, “The main responsibility of the administration is to solve the problems of the people. People will not have to run to get services, the administration will go to their doorsteps—that is our goal.” She also said that such public hearings will not only solve problems, but will also strengthen the relationship of trust and cooperation between the people and the administration.
At the beginning of the program, the Deputy Commissioner planted a sapling of a Jarul tree in the Union Parishad premises. She said that tree plantation is essential not only for the environment but also for sustainable development.
After the public hearing, she inspected various activities of the Union Parishad and instructed the officers and employees to be more active in providing services.
The Upazila administration not only organized the public hearing, but also provided scholarships to 10 meritorious students as part of its social responsibility. In addition, the Deputy Commissioner provided financial assistance to the families of five fishermen who died in a recent road accident.
The common people who participated in the public hearing described this initiative as groundbreaking. They said, earlier, we had to go from office to office to solve the problem; today, the Deputy Commissioner himself came and listened to the matter and took immediate action—this is truly commendable.
This public hearing held in Salimpur Union is not just a formality, it is a real step to fulfill the expectations of the people. The common people believe that if such initiatives are continued continuously, good governance and development activities at the union level will be more dynamic.
