DC conference cast into doubt amid polls preparations

Plans for the 2026 Deputy Commissioners’ Conference have been thrown into uncertainty as the country gears up for national elections in February next year. 

With the interim government focused squarely on ensuring a smooth electoral process, officials confirm that no decision has yet been taken on whether the annual gathering will go ahead as usual.

Traditionally held between February and March, the DC Conference serves as a vital forum for face-to-face dialogue between senior government policymakers and field administrators – namely the 64 deputy commissioners and eight divisional commissioners. 

However, with the 13th parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12, 2026, officials stress that organising such a large-scale event is not currently a priority.

“The government is fully occupied with election preparations,” said a senior official at the Cabinet Division, which oversees the conference. “Field administration plays a crucial role in delivering free, fair, and impartial elections and that is where our focus lies.”

The Cabinet Secretary, Sheikh Abdur Rashid, told Jago News: “We have not yet planned the next DC Conference. There are no preparations underway. Given that a new government is expected to take office in February, it will be for them to decide whether – and when – to hold the conference.”

Preparatory work for the 2026 conference had tentatively begun several months ago, with the Cabinet Division soliciting proposals from DCs and divisional commissioners. But with the election timetable now fixed, those efforts have been put on hold.

Complicating matters further is the recent appointment of new deputy commissioners in 50 districts – a move widely seen as part of election-readiness efforts. Many of these appointees are still familiarising themselves with local challenges, raising doubts about the suitability of convening the conference in early 2026.

“One joins a new district with a lot to learn,” said a newly appointed DC, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Right now, our priority is ensuring the election runs smoothly. We’ve received no instructions about the conference.”

Since the height of the pandemic, the DC Conference has been held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium. 

However, officials indicate that future editions – including whenever the next one takes place – will be hosted in the newly built Building 1 inside Bangladesh Secretariat, specifically in the Cabinet Division’s dedicated conference room.

The conference typically features working sessions between DCs and representatives from various ministries – including advisors, ministers, and senior secretaries – as well as an opening ceremony, a direct discussion with the head of government, courtesy calls on the President and Chief Justice, and a formal closing session. 

Proposals submitted in advance by field administrators are compiled into a formal document by the Cabinet Division, while additional recommendations are often made during live discussions, presided over by the Cabinet Secretary.

For now, however, all eyes remain on the polls – and the fate of the 2026 DC Conference rests in the hands of the incoming administration.