KURIGRAM, Nov 26, 2025 (BSS) - The people of the district sees as women empowerment the appointment of four women deputy commissioners (DC) out of six in the last eight years in a pioneer initiative of the government.

The people here are happy to get four women DCs as they believe that the women deputy commissioners take care of the happiness and sorrows of the common people and they also work sincerely for the development of the area.

According to the district DC office, six deputy commissioners were appointed here from March 2018 to November 2025. Among them, Sultana Parveen took over the office from March 3, 2018 to March 16, 2020, Md. Rezaul Karim from March 19, 2020 to December 4, 2022, Mohammad Saidul Arif from December 4, 2022 to September 12, 2024, Nusrat Sultana from September 12, 2024 to August 31, 2025, Sifat Mehnaz from September 1, 2025 to November 18, 2025 and Annapurna Debnath from November 18, 2025. 

Although this issue has become a topic of discussion among the district residents, the Ministry of Public Administration said that there is no specific policy or decision on this. The matter is completely coincidental.

Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Md. Raheed Hossain told BSS, "This is a coincidence. Kurigram is not a designated district for women DCs. Everyone has been appointed according to their qualifications."

Sources said that new Deputy Commissioners have been appointed in 23 districts ahead of the upcoming national parliament elections. 

As part of this, Annapurna Debnath has been appointed as the new Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram. She was the Sub-Land Reforms Commissioner at the Land Reforms Board. 

Local journalists, women leaders and civil society leaders said that successive women's leaderships have a positive impact on the district. 

The development activities carried out by Nusrat Sultana in the char areas in particular are memorable to the locals. Then, Deputy Commissioner Sifat Mehnaz joined two and a half months ago. She also planned to take various steps for the development of Kurigram in a short time.

Kurigram District Mohila Dal Senior Vice President Professor Nazmunnahar Beauty told BSS, "This is a strong reflection of women's empowerment in administration. Girls are being inspired by this." 

Locals believe that the newly appointed DC of the district, Annapurna Debnath, will also work for the overall development of the district in line with her predecessors.

Anwar Hossain, a member of Jatrapur Union Parishad in Kurigram Sadar Upazila, said, "For a long time, we thought that no one pay heed to us because we are people from the Char. But this year, I saw that the Deputy Commissioner herself came to our house by boat, motorcycle, and sometimes on foot and provided services. With the introduction of a water ambulance in the district at her initiative, we can quickly go to the hospital if we get sick. This has been a blessing for us."

Housewife Amena Khatun said, "The Milk Day and medical camp on child nutrition were of great benefit for our children. We never got these opportunities before. The scenario of town has also changed. Waterlogging has reduced due to the improved drainage system, and we can spend time with our families in the evenings at the new DC Park on the banks of the Dharla River. It seems that Kurigram is really changing."

Ratul Ahmed, who has just passed his higher secondary school, said, "The youth of char area used to think that no one would think of them. There are no opportunities for them. But a training arranged by the DC grew confidence among us. Now we can dream of standing on our own feet." 

Marginal farmers of Kurigram are also quite optimistic about the appointment of a female deputy commissioner. 

They said that the DC repeatedly visits the area and gives instructions to save our homes from river erosion.

The recent appointment of Annapurna Debnath as the new Deputy Administrator of Kurigram has instilled new hope in the minds of the locals.