A group of newly elected representatives of upazila parishad (UP) yesterday threatened to declare lawmakers persona-non-grata in UP complex areas if the Upazila Parishad Act 2009 is not cancelled immediately.
The announcement came at a views-exchange meeting between UP chairmen and vice-chairmen at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital.
They also formed a forum titled “Bangladesh Upazila Chairmen Forum” with Muhibur Rahman, chairman of Bishwanath Upazila in Sylhet and Ziaul Haq Sarkar, chairman of Laxmipur upazila, as its convener and member secretary.
“There is no recognised organisation for the representatives of upazila parishad. We have formed this forum to facilitate our movement for strengthening the local government,” Muhibur Rahman told The Daily Star.
He said around 250 UP representatives attended the meeting that decided to hold a council of the forum within three months.
The UP chairmen at the meeting also threatened to launch a tough movement to realise their demand for scrapping the Upazila Parishad Act 2009 and ensure the democratic rights of UP representatives.
They feared that taking advantage of the act’s provisions, lawmakers might misuse their power and indulge in corruption.
This act will create obstacles for local administrations to conducting development works freely, they added.
Harun-or-Rashid Hawlader, coordinator of Upazila Chairmen’s Association, said they have nothing to do with the ’so-called’ forum.
“Most of the chairmen and vice-chairmen are not aware of such a meeting. I think, it’s nothing but an initiative to create a rift between the representatives of upazila parishad.”
A total of 450 UP chairmen and 900 vice-chairmen were elected in the January 22 elections this year.
The parliament on April 6 unanimously passed the Upazila Parishad Bill 2009 that ensured the lawmakers’ administrative authority over the most crucial tier of local government system.
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh News, Bangladesh Politics, Daily Bangladesh News, News, Politics
