MINUTES AND DECISIONS OF THE CABINET MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1971

The Acting President, the Prime Minister, and all the cabinet ministers were present. To Secretary of the G. A Department attended by special invitation. The Cabinet Secretary was present.

During the discussion the following points were made:

• a) The former Administrative Units in Bangladesh were large and unwieldy and hence, our new Units should be smaller and effective

• b) All Vestiges of the old Ayub regime and Yahya clique should be done away with;

• c) The Thana Secretariat as existed before Morch 25, should be abolished;

• d) The long-run Administrative sett-up in Bangladesh will have to be choses according To The wisnes and aspiraTions for the people, THIS WOUld naturally Take Time.

  The Planning Commission or any other commission Set UP bY the Government to recommend Aarinistrative pattorns for the future will perhaps, take care of those.

  Howev, the need tor having an Administrative set-up in the liberated areas is urgent and pressing. This has goT TO be done now. Keoping the long run OBJECTIVes in view

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  e) The naministrative set up in the Tiberated areas should be such that it can assist and support the defence efforts. As a matter OF TACT, The liberated areas will have to be administered in close co-operation with defence;

• f) Under our new Net-up changes have to be brought even in the short run so that people do not look upon our administration as a vestige of the old ruling clique with only changes in personnel

• g) the present liberated zones have in the same official at Thana level as it existed before the war.

  These Persons should be absorbed and integrated into our setup as they have all pledged their allegiance to our Government. Most of them are not being paid;

• h) It was pointed out that the scheme for the Introduction of the Thana Magistracy was first of all conceived by the Awami League Government in 1954–55.

  It was also the Awami League Government which first of all envisaged formulation and Implementation of development plans at the thana level;

• i) The present Administrative Units in the Liberated zones should serve as models for future Bangladesh Administration.

  They will demonstrate the principles of peace and progress in future Bangladesh.

  In establishing these replica for future Bangladesh Administration with peace, progress and prosperity as the key-notes, we might have to sacrifice the principle of the economy at certain stages in that The establishment of model Administrative Units under the present circumstances may be expensive.

• j) In order to establish smaller Administrativo Units, at lower levels we might nave to take The union as The basic unit of administration. Consequently, Thore Will have To be Union-level arrangements for maintenance of law and order such as Outpost, etc.

• k) Although Union may be taken as the basic unit of Administration, overall supervision will have to be done from the Thana;

• l) village volunteers will have to be recruited for enjoying the Government in the maintenance of law andorder

• m) Sub-Administrators at the Thana level may be appointed for the overall supervision of liberated areas. The Thana Magistrate may continue as a purely Judicial officer.

  The present Thana level development officers may also continue but at the moment they will have to help in the maintenance of law and order and in relief and rehabilitation work. These officers will have to undertake various Census and Survey work;

• n) Adequate police personnel and senior officers for Controlling them should also be appointed.

• o) circuit Courts or Tribunals may have to be appointed for over-seeing judicial work;

• p) The Penal Code will have to be suitably amended and adopted for Bangladeshi.

The acting President, the Prime Minister, and all the Cabinet Ministers were present. The Secretary of the G.A.Deptt. attended by special invitation. The Cabinet Secretary was also Present.

• The cabinet discussed the various points made out in the GA department paper and decided to direct the Chairman, zonal administrative Council, South-West Zone (Bongaon) to immediately Implement Government decisions regarding recruitment, posting, etc. of the Govt. employees.

• The Cabinet also decided to direct the Chairman to sign the paycheques for all Govt. employees appointed by the government and posted to his zone.

• The Home Minister was requested to write to the Chairman conveying the cabinet directives to the Chairman and also follow up the Cabinet decision in respect of this particular agenda.

The Acting President, the Prime Minister, and all the Cabinet Ministers were present. The Secretary of the G.A.Deptt. attended by special Invitation. The Cabinet Secretary was also present.

Tho Cabinet discussed in detail all the points raised by the G.A.Department regarding service conditions and appointments TO different classes and posts and TOOK The following decisions;

• a) The earlier decision or the cabinet and the procedure laid down the same regarding the appointment. The different posts under the Government were recalled and it was held that The same should invariably be followed in the matter of appointment of officers and staff under the Government.

• b) The G.A.Department will sort out all cases of appointments made in violation of the cabinet decision and take such action that may be necessary. Particular cases, if necessary, may be brought to the notice of the Prime Minister.

• c) No appointments should be made by any ministry/ Department or zone beyond the structural set-up approved by the Government.

  All such appointments so far made by any MINISTER department or zone ent or zone beyond the structural set-up approved by The Government were held to have been irregular and liable to be terminated.

  It was, however, felt that attempt should be made. to absorb those who are already in service as far as possible. taking into consideration the qualification and otherwise suitability of the respective appointees.

• d) No further appointment will be made to Class 1 and Class 11 posts without the specific approval of the Prime Minister through the G.A.Department. Zonal appointments already approved earlier may, however, be finalized and issued by the G.A. Department.

  The Cabinet was pleased to observe that the prime Minister may kindly like to address letters to the Chairman of the Zonal Councils giving an exposition of the recruitments policy and the guidelines issued so far in regard to the same,

The ACTing President, the Prime Minister and all other cabinet Ministers were present, the Cabinet Secretary was Iso present.

• These two above subjects were consolidated by the Finance Ministry in the form of one paper titled, "Financial Control and DISCIPLIne" and discussed by the Cabinet.

• The Cabinet took serious note of the various points regarding financial indiscipline and irregularities made out by The Ministry of Finance and emphasized the need for exercising Financial control and discipline.

  The Corner decided that the financial rules already adopted by the Finance and G.A.Deptt. (as approved by the Cabinet Iand calculated by both the Depths. will be followed immediately.

  Regarding IA& DA for the MNAS and MPAs It was decided that only actual traveling expenses(TA actuals) will be admissible and that no allowance for food will be paid while MNAS/MPAS undertake approved Tours an amount of Rs. 15/" lodging allowance will be admissible to them.

  For Mujibnagar, the rate will be double. The Cabinet decided that no ANA or PA will be entitled to other TA or DA for their visits to Mujibnagar unless they are called Officially, similarly, no TA and DA will be admissible to them without the prior approval of their journies by the competent authority, that is the Minister concerned or the Chairman of the Zonal Administrative Council concerned.

The acting President, the Prime Minister, and all other Cabinet Members attended. The Cabinet Secretary was also present.

• The paper was considered and it was decided by the Cabinet that the scheme for the organization of the Agriculture Ministry should be processed through the Secretaries' Committee,

• a) it was decided by the Cabinet that the poorly paid Class IV employees under the Government will be supplied with pull-overs by the Government as a part of their winter areas as & Temporary measure

• b) The Cabinet viewed with concern the reported Information that the Zonal Administrative Council

  North-East Zone 11 has decided to sanction 13.7500/- for every manMPA for bringing out his family. It was declared that the Minister for Finance will please Immediately direct all the members of That zonal Council to refund the Government money taken by them on the strength of the above resolutions

• c) The present security arrangements for the ACTIVE President and Tho Prime Minister and other MINISTER were discussed.

  It was decided that security officers should be immediately posted and attached to the acting President, the Prime minister, and the other ministers by the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh as an additional arrangement to enforce security.

  It was also decided that strict security measures should also be enforced while interviews are granted by the Acting President, the Prime Minister, and the Ministers;

• d) The question of granting advances to the Govt. employees for the purchase of woolen garments was considered.

  It was decided that the Secretaries' Committee will deal with this particular question and fix the amount of advance to be admissible together with repayment schedule etc.

ACTING PRESIDENT.

সূত্র: এইচ. টি. ইমাম এর লেখা বই "বাংলাদেশ সরকার ১৯৭১"