Dhaka: The government has announced the formation of a pre-NICAR (National Implementation Committee for Administrative Reforms) committee, led by the cabinet secretary, to propose suggestions for establishing new administrative units such as ministries, city corporations, municipalities, divisions, districts, and upazilas, along with the necessary manpower approvals.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the committee, which was formed on Thursday, includes key officials such as the Secretary of the Public Security Division, Secretary to the Public Administration Ministry, Secretary to the Land Ministry, Secretary to the Finance Division, Secretary to the Local Government Division, Secretary to the Housing and Public Works Ministry, and the Secretary (coordination and reforms) of the Cabinet Division, along with other concerned secretaries. The Additional Secretary (coordination) to the Cabinet Division will serve as the member-secretary of this committee.
The committee's responsibilities encompass providing recommendations based on proposals for renaming and establishing new ministries, divisions, directorates, departments, and their reorganization. It will advise on the formation of new city corporations and municipalities, including the resetting of their delimitations.
Furthermore, the committee is tasked with suggesting the establishment of new divisions, districts, upazilas, and the jurisdiction and headquarters of different thanas, along with considerations regarding land and infrastructure facilities. It will also propose the minimum manpower required for new offices at various administrative levels, such as divisions, districts, and upazilas.
Additionally, the committee will offer guidance on the addition or reduction of areas within any division, district, upazila, thana, or union. To ensure smooth operations, the committee is authorized to co-opt any member, and the coordination wing of the cabinet division will provide essential secretarial services to the committee.