As a result agricultural activities are being hampered greatly in the district.

Only 63 block supervisors out of 157 posts are now working here. At field level block supervisors usually supervise fields and coordinate with farmers.

The hill district council controls the activities of DAE. The council is authorised to appoint third and fourth class employees of DAE.

On contact, Bandarban Hill District Council Chairman Ma Mya Ching told this correspondent that a process is going on to upgrade the post of block supervisors into second class officers. So, the council is now unable to recruit manpower in the vacant posts.

Besides, in seven upazilas five out of seven posts of additional agriculture officers are vacant, while three out of seven posts of agriculture extension officers, five out of seven posts of assistant agriculture extension officers, three out of seven posts of junior agriculture extension officers and three out of seven posts of plant protection inspectors are vacant for a long time.