DCs ask for continuation of executive magistrate-led mobile court, Minister Ashraf agrees

Deputy Commissioners or DCs have asked for the continuation of mobile courts headed by executive magistrates, though the High Court has declared it illegal.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 26 July 2017, 03:04 PM
Updated : 26 July 2017, 03:04 PM

Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam agreed with them when they expressed their views during the DC conference in Dhaka on Wednesday.

After the session with the DCs and his ministry officials, Syed Ashraf was responding to reporters' queries on the outcome of the meeting and specific question about the magistrate court.

“Of course,” Syed Ashraf said, stopping a reporter halfway through his question on a proposal by the DCs on continuing mobile courts.

Amid row between the judiciary and the executive on various issues, the High Court on May 11 declared illegal and unconstitutional operating mobile courts with executive magistrates as heads.

The case is now pending with the Appellate Division for hearing.

Asked if there was any decision on the DCs’ proposal to send officials of administration cadre to UN missions, Syed Ashraf said the journalists would be briefed on the matter later.

He also said neither the issue of making the divisional commissioner post a class-I job nor the harassment of Barguna UNO Tariq Salmon was discussed in the meeting.

“Transfer is a routine job,” he said about the removal of Barguna and Barisal DCs from duty over the harassment of the UNO.

He denied delivering any political instruction in the meeting with the DCs.

“The meeting gives us the chance to hear from the field-level officials about our achievements and plan for projects,” he said.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam presided over the session.