Price Surge Dominates DC Conference

Ordinary people struggle every day, yet government employees often pay little attention to it. However, when they themselves raise concerns about the rising cost of living, it becomes a matter of reflection. When such concerns come from influential officials like Deputy Commissioners (DCs), it raises further concern. And if such issues are placed before the Prime Minister, the level of worry increases. This is expected to happen at this year’s DC Conference, which is set to begin on Monday. DCs will present their concerns in front of the President, the Speaker, the Chief Justice, the heads of the three armed forces, and all ministers across 28 sessions over four days.

Ahead of the administrative conference, the DC of Pirojpur has proposed providing ration benefits. The field administration official argued that inflation and rising expenses have made daily life increasingly costly. Debt and loans are adding to mental stress, which is disrupting official duties. He said ration support would ease pressure, simplify living conditions, and improve focus on government responsibilities.

The DC has proposed the facility for employees in grades 12 to 20, who form the majority of government staff. Statistics from the Ministry of Public Administration support this. According to the ‘Statistics of Public Servants-2024’ published in June 2025, out of 1.4 million government employees, 1.035 million fall within these eight grades, around 71 percent of the workforce, potentially qualifying for ration benefits.

The government pay scale has 20 grades. Secretaries are in grade 1, additional secretaries in grade 2, joint secretaries in grade 3, and deputy secretaries in grade 4. Deputy commissioners in districts are typically drawn from the deputy secretary rank.

Similar ration-related proposals have also come from DCs of Bandarban and Rangamati. They argue that such facilities would increase work motivation and improve service quality.

The issue is likely to raise concern for three key reasons. First, a leader of Secretariat employees, Badiul Kabir, was jailed over a similar demand in the past. Second, employees have not received salary increments in the past 10 years. Although commissions were formed and recommendations approved, the current government has halted implementation, citing economic vulnerability. Third, and most importantly, soaring commodity prices have made daily life increasingly difficult, a reality widely acknowledged even by the general public.

The difficulty of life in the char areas has also been highlighted in a proposal by the DC of Kurigram. He said living conditions in these riverine areas are extremely harsh and costly. Geographic isolation and risk discourage government employees from being stationed there. He proposed introducing a “char allowance” to improve service delivery in education, healthcare, and other public services. Teachers, healthcare workers, and other officials serving in these areas face significant hardship despite their responsibilities.

The DC of Comilla has proposed free health check-ups for government employees, arguing that current medical allowances are insufficient. He also called for higher wages for irregular workers in government offices, including underpaid drivers. Drivers in land offices currently earn 15,400 taka per month, and their low pay often leads to reluctance to work on holidays.

Inflation and market pressure are expected to feature prominently in multiple discussions at the DC Conference. The proposals have been organized by ministries, with major concerns highlighted in health, education, law and order, food, and housing. These proposals not only address government employees but also reflect broader public concerns.

The DC of Rajbari proposed prioritizing timely and quality healthcare for employees. Instead of long-term state medical assistance or compensation, he suggested introducing health insurance based on risk models.

Government employees already receive priority in healthcare services, with designated hospitals in various locations, including the capital. Compared to ordinary citizens, they have relatively better access to medical protection. However, officials believe it remains insufficient. The hardship faced by ordinary low-income people is therefore even greater.

Although medical test fees are fixed in public hospitals, private hospitals and clinics set their own charges through owners’ associations, often arbitrarily. The DC of Magura has called for better control over healthcare costs in this sector.

Cooking oil shortages and price fluctuations are recurring issues in the market. The DC of Bogura highlighted the irrational price increases and proposed restricting the export of rice bran oil to stabilize supply and prevent unjustified price hikes.

Whenever essential commodity prices rise, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) becomes active. The DC of Magura proposed making TCB more effective. Currently, it trades in products such as lentils, onions, and sugar. He suggested expanding its product range to strengthen market competition and control inflation. He argued that TCB’s presence in the market helps stabilize prices and that subsidized goods help consumers maintain purchasing power.

Among 498 proposals, the DC of Gopalganj highlighted the hardship of living conditions, particularly for imams and muezzins of model mosques, who also receive government benefits. He proposed making their temporary jobs permanent and increasing their salaries and allowances.

Farmers are not receiving fair prices for their produce. The DC of Tangail noted that even officials have been moved by farmers’ suffering.