HM Nasir Uddin Jhalakathi Correspondent:
Ashrafur Rahman, an officer of the 24th BCS administration cadre, who is currently the joint secretary, joined Jhalakathi as the Deputy Commissioner on September 12, 2024. Since taking charge, he has created a place of trust for the common people through strict administrative decisions, humanitarian initiatives and public engagement activities. He is being praised by the people of the district for breaking the sand syndicate and preventing river erosion, listening to people's complaints through public hearings every Wednesday, standing by the families of martyrs and taking up activities for special children.
In the past, many Deputy Commissioners have come and gone from Jhalakathi due to transfers. Some have earned a reputation in administrative work, while others have developed close relationships with the people. Among them, the names of Shakhawat Hossain, Rabindrashri Barua and Hamidul Haque are still etched in the minds of the people. Like them, the current Deputy Commissioner Ashrafur Rahman has also set a unique example in public engagement along with administrative skills.
After taking charge, the biggest change came through the ban on illegal sand mining. For a long time, sand syndicates had been influential in the Sugandha and Bishkhali rivers, but due to Ashrafur Rahman's strict stance, this evil activity was permanently stopped. The syndicates failed to 'manage' him despite their best efforts. As a result, in addition to preventing river erosion, the common people were relieved of a major problem.
He has also gained popularity through regular public hearings. Every Wednesday, he personally attends the scheduled time to listen to the problems of the common people and provides immediate solutions. Even if he is busy with the government or has any other event, he does not miss the public hearing on that day. This sincerity in public service has made him more acceptable to the common people.
He has reduced the suffering of the city by instructing the municipal administrator to control illegal auto-rickshaws. He has also visited the graves of the families of the martyrs of the July-August uprising and announced that the district administration will be by their side at all times. He has even delivered gifts to the martyrs' families on Eid al-Fitr. The families of the martyrs expressed their gratitude to him.
He also worked for the welfare of special children. In addition to arranging rooms, toilets and tiffin for the Jhalakathi Swede School for the Intellectually Handicapped, he took the initiative to build a shed for classes. He spent time with the children and also provided financial assistance. It is also seen that special children are happy to see him when he goes to school and want to take pictures with him.
He also has a close relationship with journalists. He keeps an eye on the pages of the newspaper every day and takes quick action if any problem comes to his attention. He attended the funeral of the late Press Club President Kazi Khalilur Rahman and expressed his condolences at the Press Club and became emotional while reminiscing. Moreover, he kept an eye on Kazi Khalil while he was ill.
Not only that, after taking charge, Deputy Commissioner Ashrafur Rahman has implemented one administrative step after another in Jhalakathi. He has played an active role in controlling the situation by deploying police and army after the religious slander incident on Facebook, providing financial assistance to the martyrs and injured in the July coup, organizing 133 events for the "Youth Festival 2025", sending development projects worth crores of taka, launching 'Prasanti' sales centers during Ramadan, verifying TCB cards, becoming the best in the country in birth and death registration, implementing the Kabikha-Kavita and TR projects, organizing fake-free SSC exams, special security during the autumn Durga Puja, forming a task force to control commodity prices, launching a fair price market through farmers, preventing the use of polythene, successfully conducting a mother hilsa conservation campaign, digging canals to relieve waterlogging, solving hospital problems and appointing administrators in the Union Parishad.
With all these activities, Ashrafur Rahman has become known to the people of the district not only as an administrator, but also as a people-friendly guardian.
HM Nasir Uddin
Jhalakathi Correspondent
