DHAKA, Jan 17, 2022 (BSS) - The much-awaited annual conference of the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) will begin tomorrow. 
 
   Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to open it as chief guest, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat after the Cabinet meeting.
 
   Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the regular Cabinet meeting held at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad.
 
   The Cabinet Secretary said the conference that has already been shortened to a three-day from a five-day will take place at Osmani Memorial Auditorium instead of the meeting room in the Cabinet division due to the fresh surge of Covid-19. 
 
     He said only 15 ministers and secretaries of 15 ministries have been invited to the inauguration ceremony.
 
      Besides, the DCs have been asked to do the RTPR test along with his gunman, driver and companions before joining the conference, he added.   
 
     Khandker Anwarul Islam revealed that till now two divisional commissioners and five DCs became tested Covid-19 positive.
 
     They are divisional commissioners of Rajshahi and Barisal while DCs of Cox’s Bazar, Rajshahi, Patuakhali, Laxmipur and Chuadanga.
 
      Answering a question regarding the use of virtual platforms against the backdrop of fresh surge of Coronavirus, he said “Actually we don’t want to use technology as the Prime Minister talks and delivers advice here.”
 
      In this connection, he said they’ve shifted the conference to Osmani Memorial Auditorium considering Covid-19 as only 64 persons will be allowed to the venue although it has the capacity to accommodate 700 people. 
 
     He added many ministries have been accommodated in different ways in this conference.
 
      The cabinet secretary said that President Abdul Hamid will deliver speech virtually tomorrow evening while Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Choudhury and the Chief Justice are also scheduled to address virtually on Wednesday. 
 
   The issues of Covid-19, land management, law enforcement, strengthening activities of local government, disaster management, poverty reduction and employment at the local level, social safety net activities, ICT and e-governance, education, health, environment, physical infrastructure and development activities would be focused in the conference.