PM asks for ensuring building codes, actions against food stocking

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked all concerned, particularly the field level administration, to ensure maintaining building codes and actions against food stockpiling across the country.

"All have to keep an eye on pursuing building codes properly. The codes will have to be followed in every place of the country while constructing buildings," she said while opening the Deputy Commissioner's (DC) Conference 2024 from her office in Dhaka today.

The premier also directed the field administration to go tough on any sort of food stockpiling and adultery as such dishonest acts generally increase ahead of Ramadan.

She directed them to keep vigil against food stocking and adulteration as some unscrupulous traders are indulged in making quick bucks creating artificial crisis through hoarding of food and its adultery ahead of the Ramadan.

"Some people always try to gain additional profit by hiking the prices [of essentials] through stockpiling ahead of Ramadan. You [DCs] have to give special attention to stop such acts," she said.

The premier directed government officials to make sure consumers are not harassed anywhere. "It  will be our immediate task," she said.

Mentioning that problems are also created in marketing of the essentials ahead of Ramadan, she said an attempt is always there to make artificial crises.

"Tougher legal actions will have to be taken against these," she added.

The prime minister asked the field level administration to take measures to bring every inch of arable and fallow land under cultivation to grow more food.

"We have to increase food production and decrease dependency on others. We have proved earlier that we can do it," she said.

She thanked all concerned including the field level administration for performing their duties accordingly in holding the 12th parliamentary election in a credible manner.

"Among the elections that I witnessed and participated in after 1975, the 12th parliamentary election is the most fair," she added.

Ensure building codes

At the event, the primer further said, "We should construct buildings keeping in mind safety measures that include fire extinguishing management, cross ventilation and rain harvesting systems in line with the building codes."

The prime minister thanked the Dhaka district administration for promptly rushing to the fire-hit Bailey Road Building site and standing by the people.

The head of the government, as well, directed that the building codes, as if, were not breached in any place of the country by any means.

Prioritise development projects

PM Hasina asked authorities concerned to take the development programmes considering its benefit for the local people and keeping in mind that nature, environment and development are interrelated.

She also emphasised on proper waste management at the district, upazila, union and ward levels to avert disasters and ordered DCs to ensure their quality and quick completion.

"You will have to supervise the projects and take responsibility for both their good and bad sides. If the projects are implemented properly at appropriate places, then we can build a developed country with limited resources," she said.

The PM also instructed the field level administration to maintain peace, safety and security in society, effectively confronting militancy, terrorism and drug abuse.

She said many people at upazila level have taxable income but the collection of income tax is not as much as the people are earning and asked for reinforcing the drive to collect income tax alongside making the people aware of it.