District Administration, Rangamati

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District administration is the apex office of a district within the current administrative framework of Bangladesh. It manages affairs within a district, which is the basic territorial unit of administration in the country. At this level, the general public has direct contact with the administration. The district is overseen by a district officer, known as the Deputy Commissioner, District Collector, or District Magistrate, who acts as the representative of the central government at this level. Like other district administrations in the country, the District Administration of Rangamati, commonly referred to as the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, serves as the representative of the cabinet in the Rangamati Hill District.

Bangladesh's entire public administration structure reflects its colonial past. Present-day Bangladesh was part of the British Empire for almost two hundred years and became known as East Pakistan under Pakistani rule in 1947. The Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 led to Bangladesh's independence.^[1]

Before 1860, the Chittagong Hill Tracts was a part of Chittagong District and was administered by the Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong. In 1860, the Chittagong Hill Tracts was separated from Chittagong District and established as a distinct district. This change followed an attack in 1859 by tribal people from the east on a fort near the Kaptai Canal. In response, the Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong decided to enhance security for the tribal people and proposed to the Governor of Bengal that the region be separated from the Chittagong District. The proposal was accepted and enacted on 1 August 1860 by Act XXII of that year. An officer titled Superintendent was appointed, and Captain McGrath became the first Superintendent of the district, responsible for implementing British rule under the provisions of the Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong.

In 1867, the designation of the ruler changed from Superintendent to Deputy Commissioner. The first administrative headquarters of the district was established at Chandraghona in 1863, but it was transferred to Rangamati in 1868, with the move becoming effective the following year. Captain T. H. Lewin was the first Deputy Commissioner to move to Rangamati permanently.

However, in 1891, the Chittagong Hill Tracts lost its status as a district due to the British conquest of the Lushai Hills, which diminished its importance. It was then made a sub-division of the Chittagong District, with an Assistant Commissioner given authority over it. In 1900, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation 1900 was enacted to administer the area, reinstating its status as a district. The officer in charge of the district was once again titled Superintendent. At this time, the district was divided into three sub-divisions: Rangamati, Bandarban, and Ramgarh, each with its own Sub-Divisional Officer.

In 1979, three more sub-divisions were created through separate gazettes. In 1920, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation 1900 was amended, renaming the ruler of the district as the Deputy Commissioner. An Indian Civil Service officer was appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and subordinate officers were designated as Deputy Magistrates or Deputy Collectors and Sub-Deputy Magistrates or Sub-Deputy Collectors.

In 1960, under the provisions of Basic Democracy, 11 Thana Parishads and 39 Union Parishads were created in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Later, these Thanasis were renamed upazilas. The Kaptai Hydropower Station, established in 1960, brought significant changes to the socioeconomic aspects of the local population. More than 100,000 people were affected by this project.

The Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate are at the top of the office hierarchy. Multiple Additional Deputy Commissioners assist the Deputy Commissioner. While many districts have five to six Additional Deputy Commissioners, the Rangamati Hill District has three. Assistant Commissioners work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Commissioner and Additional Deputy Commissioners, each overseeing different sections of the office. A Senior Assistant Commissioner serves as the Nezarat Deputy Collector. Each section includes a clerk, a member of the Lower Subordinate Staff (MLSS), bearers, and other support staff. The Senior Clerk is known as the Head Assistant of the section.

The District Magistrate plays a vital role in maintaining law, order, and discipline. The rules and regulations of the country grant significant authority to the District Magistrate. The District Magistrate serves as the Chairperson of the District Law and Order Committee, while the Superintendent of Police of the district is the Vice Chairman. The District Magistrate also reports to the Cabinet regarding the law and order situation in the district, according to the Police Regulations of Bengal.

District Administration originally focused primarily on collecting land revenue. The administrative system was established by the East India Company for this purpose. Over time, criminal prosecution, administration, coordination of government offices, and development activities were added to the responsibilities of district administration. The Deputy Commissioner, serving as the district collector, collects revenue within the jurisdiction of the district. Rangamati, as part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, maintains a different revenue collection system compared to other districts in the country.

The District Administration has initiated various programs to bring about positive changes in the educational sector of the district. Currently, the administration provides support to underprivileged students in the district.

The Rangamati District Administration has initiated a program to distribute school uniforms to primary school students. This program, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati, includes the distribution of school bags, umbrellas, and uniforms to hundreds of students. The aim of this program is to reduce student dropout rates and encourage parents to send their children to school by creating a sense of appreciation and support.

The DC Bungalow Museum was established in 2010 by the then Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati, Mr. Saurendra Nath Chakraborty. The museum was inaugurated by H. T. Imam, the first Cabinet Secretary of Bangladesh, who was also the Deputy Commissioner of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in 1969. The museum exhibits photographs of all the Deputy Commissioners and includes items such as a British-era typewriter and a hundred-year-old weight. Additionally, the museum has a collection of government-published calendars from the past 50 years.

The Circuit House in Rangamati is under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner. It is considered one of the best circuit houses in the country. The circuit house features six rooms, all of which are equipped with modern amenities and are fully air-conditioned.

The BIAM Laboratory School is a joint venture between the District Administration of Rangamati and the Bangladesh Institute of Administration and Management (BIAM) Foundation, Dhaka. The school was established in 2012. Md. Mostafa Kamal, the former Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati, took the initiative to establish a quality English medium school in Rangamati. The BIAM School has its own campus in the Tabalchari area. The Assistant Commissioner of the Education and Welfare Section serves as the principal of the school.