Govt committed to reform, learning from past failures: Info minister

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan on Wednesday said the government is moving to reinforce state institutions and ensure accountability, stressing that it has taken lessons from the shortcomings of the previous administration.

He made the remarks while speaking at a views-exchange meeting with officials from divisional and district-level departments at the Chattogram Circuit House conference room.

Zahir Uddin Swapan said the administration is determined to govern in accordance with the people’s mandate.

“The people are the true owners of the state, and we are accountable to them,” he said, adding that the Prime Minister had made it clear at the first cabinet meeting that public accountability must guide all government actions.

He noted that steps are being taken to prevent partisanship and misuse of authority within the executive branch, with the aim of establishing a robust and transparent institutional structure.

Referring to election pledges, the minister said implementation work has already started. A pilot phase of the family card programme is underway, and he expressed optimism that tangible progress would be visible before Eid.

He urged field-level officials to complete necessary preparations in advance.

Zahir Uddin Swapan also highlighted the Farmers Card initiative, under which farmers will receive fertiliser, seeds, pesticides, machinery and loans directly through smart cards to eliminate middlemen and reduce corruption.

He added that the government is moving forward with a plan to waive interest on agricultural loans up to Tk10,000.

In addition, an allowance scheme for mosque imams, muezzins and support staff has been introduced, with plans to bring it under a transparent card-based system.

The meeting was chaired by Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Dr Md Ziauddin.

Director General of the Department of Mass Communication Md Abdul Jalil, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah, and officials from various departments at the district and divisional levels in Chattogram, among others, were also present at the meeting.

Earlier, the minister also addressed a separate programme organised by the Chattogram Press Club and the Chattogram Metropolitan Journalists Union.