JS passes UP bill

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The amended local government (union council) Bill has been passed in the Jatiya Sangsad, paving way for the elections by November.
The Bill was passed through voice votes after Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam placed it Wednesday for approval. The bill was tabled Monday, reports bdnews24.com.
The Union Parishad (amendment) Bill-2010 will delete a section of Union Parisahd Act-2009, which stipulated restructuring of union council wards at regular intervals.
The Bill was sent to the parliamentary Standing Committee on Local Government Ministry for its recommendations within one day.
Speaker Advocate Abdul Hamid, who was chairing the session, told parliament that the committee chairman would table the recommendations Tuesday.
While defending the Bill, Mr Ashraf said that the 2009 law had the provision of redrawing the Union Parishad (UP) wards, the lowest tier of the local government body, before the elections.
The demarcation would have to be made in such a manner that population among the wards does not vary by more than 10 per cent, he said.