UP chairmen demand freedom from MPs
Courtesy New Age 8/4/09
The Bangladesh Upazila Parishad Association, an association of the elected chairmen of the local government bodies, at a meeting on Tuesday observed that strong and functioning Upazila Parishads would not be possible under the new law passed by the parliament on Monday.
The newly-elected upazila parishad chairmen urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to drop certain provisions of the Upazila Parishad (Repealed Act Re-Introduction and Amendment) Act, which gives the Members of Parliament the authority to control the decisions taken and work done by the parishads.
The coordinator of the BUPA, Harun-ur-Rashid Hawladar, also the chairman of Dumki in Patuakhali, after the meeting told New Age that they would go for an action programme if Hasina does not pay their demands any heed and retains the questionable provisions which robs them of freedom and autonomy.
The parliament on Monday unanimously passed the Upazila Parishad (Repealed Act Re-Introduction and Amendment) Bill, making it mandatory for the upazila parishads to consult the lawmakers as well as to accept their recommendations while making plans for development in their constituencies.
Several political parties on Tuesday observed that the upazila parishad bill which was passed with provisions giving lawmakers sweeping authority over the parishads in their constituencies, would make the local bodies weaker instead of strengthening them.
The Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, in a statement by its president Khandakar Ali Abbas and general secretary Saiful Islam, jointly condemned the passage of the upazila bill. They said it was a clear violation of the constitution as well as non-fulfilment of the Awami League’s election pledge.
‘It (the new law) will destroy the status of the upazila parishad as an independent local government body,’ said the RWPB’s release.
Mohammad Shafiq and Abdul Malek Ratan, executive president and general secretary respectively of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, in a joint statement termed the Upazila Parishad (Repealed Act Re-Introduction and Amendment) Act a black law because it provides lawmakers sweeping authority over upazila parishads.
‘The law is against the spirit of democracy, constitution and the strengthening of the local government bodies, and it has also disappointed the voters,’ said the release.
ASM Abdur Rab, convener of the Unity for Political Reforms, said that the upazila bill would impede the development and empowerment of the rural people and prevent the giving of an institutional framework to democracy.
Gano Forum in a statement said that it has been made mandatory for the upazila parishads to consult the lawmakers as well as to accept their recommendations while making plans for development, which will create a political and administrative crisis.
The Neeti Gobeshona Kendro said the upazila bill would make the local bodies weaker instead of strengthening them. The Equity and Justice Working Group of
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