Relief and Disaster Management Minister Asadul Habib Dulu has said the current government is pursuing a strict zero-tolerance policy against corruption. “We will not engage in corruption ourselves, nor will we allow anyone else to do so,” he stated.

He made the remarks on Monday afternoon during a meeting with deputy commissioners, superintendents of police, and other divisional officials of Rangpur Division. The meeting was chaired by Md Shahidul Islam at his office.

The minister emphasized that corruption would not be tolerated under any circumstances and urged officials across all departments to remain vigilant. He warned that action would be taken if any allegations of misconduct arise.

After delivering brief remarks, the minister listened to statements from divisional directors, senior officials, deputy commissioners, and police superintendents.

An official from the Rangpur Water Development Board Circle-1 said that excavation work on 27 kilometers of canals and 25 kilometers of small rivers is expected to be completed by June. In Rangpur, dredging is ongoing along 25 kilometers of the Shyamasundari Canal. The Ministry of Water Resources is handling waste removal, the city corporation is overseeing waste management, and the Local Government Engineering Department will carry out beautification and afforestation work.

In response, the minister stressed that special attention must be given to preventing canals from being refilled after excavation, noting that similar projects in the past failed due to poor follow-up. He instructed that no deviations from approved plans and designs would be allowed and warned against any political pressure influencing project implementation. Referring to past experiences in Dhaka, he alleged that contractors had sometimes taken payment without completing excavation work.

The deputy commissioner of Panchagarh raised concerns about fertilizer shortages for tea gardens, explaining that fertilizers are primarily allocated for agricultural crops, while tea is considered a commercial product. As a result, dealers are reluctant to supply fertilizer to tea growers. He also highlighted challenges in the healthcare sector, noting that although 15 doctors recently joined Panchagarh Sadar Hospital, 11 have sought transfers elsewhere.

The deputy commissioner of Dinajpur proposed renovation of the Ghaghra Canal, which flows through Dinajpur town.

The minister underscored the importance of discipline in the education and health sectors, controlling commodity prices, ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply, and combating drug abuse. He made it clear that irregularities, underweight distribution, or favoritism in VGF (Vulnerable Group Feeding) rice distribution would not be tolerated. He directed that rice distribution be conducted in the presence of upazila executive officers, even if it requires spreading the process over several days.

He also ordered close monitoring of fertilizer dealers to ensure they do not sell products above government-set prices.

Regarding the Teesta Master Plan, the minister said the long-standing demand of nearly 20 million people in the region would be addressed on a priority basis. Instead of fragmented projects as seen in the past, he said an integrated initiative would be undertaken for the management and dredging of the Teesta River.

Among others, Md Aminul Islam, DIG of Rangpur Range; Md Majid Ali, Commissioner of Rangpur Metropolitan Police; and Mohammad Enamul Ahsan also spoke at the meeting.