District Administration, Rangamati

British era

Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) was a part of Chittagong District before 1860. The region was ruled by the deputy commissioner from Chittagong. CHT was segregated from Chittagong district and made a complete district in 1860. In 1859, a fort situated by the side of canal Kaptai was attacked and demolished by the tribal people from east. So, the then divisional commissioner of Chittagong decided to provide safety to the tribal people of the hill tracts and proposed to the governor of Bengal to segregate the region from regulation district Chittagong. The proposal was accepted and enacted on 1 August 1860 by the Act XXII of the year. An officer entitled as superintendent was appointed. Captain McGrath was made the first superintendent of the district to rule. He would execute British rule under the provision of the divisional commissioner of Chittagong.

Designation of the ruler turned into deputy commissioner from superintendent in 1867. First administrative headquarters of the district was set up at Chandraghona in 1863. But the headquarters transferred to Rangamati from Chandraghona in 1868 and came into effect in the following year. Capt. T. H. Lewin was the first deputy commissioner who moved to Rangamati permanently. But in 1891 CHT lost its position as a district because of the conquest of the Lushai Hills by the British. Which reduced the importance of Chittagong Hill Tracts as a district. It was made a sub-division of Chittagong district and given the authority to rule to an assistant commissioner. But in 1900, a regulation named Chittagong Hill Tracts regulation 1900 was formulated to administer the area and the position of CHT as a district was reinstated. Officer in charge of the district became superintendent again. At this time, the district was divided into three sub-divisions such as Rangamati, Bandarban & Ramghar. A sub-divisional officer was appointed to each sub-division. Three more sub-divisions were created by three different gazettes in 1979. In 1920, the CHT regulation 1900 was amended and the ruler of the district was renamed as the deputy commissioner and an ICS officer was appointed as the deputy commissioner of-CHT. Sub-ordinate officers of the deputy commissioner were termed as deputy magistrate or deputy collector and sub-deputy magistrate or sub-deputy collector.

Pakistan Era

In 1960, under the provision of Basic Democracy 11 Thana porishad and 39 union porishad were created in the CHT. Later this thana was renamed as upazila. Kaptai hydro power station was established in 1960 which brought radical change in the socioeconomic aspects of the people. More than 0.1 million people were affected by this project.

British Period

Pakistan Period

Bangladesh Period

District magistracy

Law and order

District magistrate plays vital role for maintaining law, order and discipline. Rules and regulations of the country attribute a large scale of authority to the district magistrate. District magistrate is the chairperson of District Law and Order Committee while the superintendent of police of a district is the vice chairman. District magistrate sends reports to cabinet regarding law and order situation of the district. Police Regulation of Bengal.

Land administration

District Administration was originated mainly for collecting land revenue. Administrative system was evolved by the then East India Company for collecting land revenue. Criminal prosecution, administration, co-ordination of government offices and development activities were later added to the activities of district administration. Deputy commissioner, as a district collector collects revenue in the jurisdiction of his district. Rangamati as a part of Chittagong Hill Tract, maintain different revenue collection system, from other districts of the country. From the collecting revenuers government gets 26%, crime chief gets .............. and headman gets.........................

Mid-day meal

District Administration has started various programs to bring about a positive change in the educational arena of the district. At present district administration is rendering support to poor students of the district.

Distribution of free school dress to students

Rangamati District Administration has taken initiative to distribute school dress to students of primary school. This program has taken by the deputy commissioner of Rangamati. School bag, umbrella and dress have distributed to hundreds of students presently. This program is taken to reduce drop-out of students and to create appreciation among the parents with the objective that they send their off-spring to school.

Bungalow Museum

DC Bungalow museum was established in 2010 by the then deputy commissioner of Rangamati, Mr. Saurendra Nath Chakrabharty. The museum was inaugurated by (the first cabinet secretary of Bangladesh), H. T. Imam, who was the deputy commissioner of Chittagong Hill Tract in 1969. The museum exhibits pictures of all the deputy commissioners. There is also a typewriter of British era. A weight of hundred years old etc. The museum has the collection of government-published calendars of previous 50 years.