Parliament passes Upazila Parishad Bill

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Amidst cheers from the rejoicing lawmakers, parliament Monday passed the Upazila Parishad Bill retaining MPs as advisers of the local-government bodies to play the overlord despite protest from the newly elected Upazila chairmen, reports UNB.
Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Syed Ashraful Islam piloted the Bill, endorsed by the House unanimously, disposing of some amendments from both sides of the divide.
The House accepted some small amendments moved by former law minister Abdul Matin Khashru and BNP members Zafrul Islam Chowdhury and Mozammel Huq.
Khasru in its amendment proposed that the UNO (Upazila Nirbahi Officer) should remain secretary of the Parishad and give secretarial support.
Opposition members welcomed the Upazila Parishad (Reintroduction of Scrapped Law and Amendment) Bill 2009 in principle but moved a few amendments to different provisions for improving the Bill. Most of their amendment motions were rejected by voice vote of the overwhelming majority mustered by the ruling Awami League and its grand alliance.
According to a provision of the Bill, the Upazila Parishad will keep the MP of the concerned area informed in making contact with the government on any subject.
The provision, however, does not spell out what would happen if the Upazila Parishad did not act at the dictate of the MP of the area.
The executive power of the Upazila Parishad will be exercised by the chairman, the vice-chairman and any member or official entrusted by the Parishad.
The LGRD minister said there was no involvement of elected MPs in the Upazila Parishads as per the Upazila Parishad Ordinance promulgated by former President Iajuddin Ahmed during the army-backed caretaker government.
Meanwhile, Parliament Monday scrapped the Gram Sarkar system by voice vote from the big-majority treasury benches, voting out opposition members' objections, on grounds that the village-government bodies earned bad reputation in many cases.
Opposition BNP members Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Joynul Abedin, Fazlul Azim and Zafrul Islam opposed the abrogation bill saying that the villagers benefited through the Gram Sarkar system that helped maintain law and order and contributed to development works in villages.