He said the DCs have an important role in maintaining law and order as district magistrates and suggested them to avoid delay in settling criminal cases in their respective districts to check crime.

The president was addressing at Bangabhaban the DCs who are attending a three-day annual conference of Deputy Commissioners that began Sunday.

"District and upazila administrations are the main centre of field administration. Deputy Commissioners perform important responsibilities at field level as government representatives," he said.

He advised them to rise above all personal interest in performing these onerous responsibilities.

Iajuddin suggested the DCs to maintain the 'role model' image of their office and stand by the people.

He said they should take initiative to make the field-level officers more active and dynamic.

He asked the DCs to ensure constant presence of the field officers and staffs at their workplaces as per government circular and take strict administrative measures against those absenting from work without permission.

"The officials of public administration these days should be honest, efficient and eligible workers to face the challenges of 21st century," he said.

He called upon them to build up own 'vision' and 'mission' at their respective workplace.

The DCs have an important role in rearing skilled administrators and developing the qualities of new officials.

The president said DCs perform the responsibility of land administration and management at the field administration and they should be active to recover the 'khas' land from illegal occupants and settle the khas land among the real landless people.

He asked them to strengthen the disaster management system in their districts to face natural calamity and stand by the disaster-affected people with courage, patience and intelligence.

He said an independent anti-corruption commissioner has been established to ensure good governance and transparency in all sectors and initiative has been taken for establishing Ombudsman.

Besides, Value Added Tax Law has been amended and The Public Procurement Regulation 2003 was formulated to bring transparency in government procurement system.

He also asked them to try to establish their respective district as an ideal one and then Bangladesh would be developed with its limited resources.

Deputy Commissioners of all 64 districts were present at the conference and cabinet secretary ASM Abdul Halim conducted the programme.

Establishment Secretary Dr Mahbubur Rahman, Law Secretary Alauddin Sarder, President's Secretary Abu Md Moniruzzaman Khan and divisional commissioners of six divisions and other high officials were present.