No plan to hold dist council polls now, says Syed Ashraf

FE Team | Published: July 10, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam Wednesday said the government has no plan to hold Zilla Parishad polls any time soon, reports UNB.
"There's a process to hold Zila parishad polls…the process is underway. On completion of the process, I hope it'll be possible to establish elected institutions. But it'll be examined whether there is any necessity of it," he said.
The minister said this while talking to journalists after a meeting with Deputy Commissioners (DCs) as part of the DCs' conference at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
In reply to a question whether the local government institutions will be dissolved, the minister said, "It deserves consideration."
"There's no use of having unnecessary branches under local government... this is not good for a democratic country…there's no use of so many local government institutions," Syed Ashraf said emphasising the need for strengthening the union parishads.
About the Divisional Commissioners' proposal for empowering them to take action against Union Parishad members and Pourashava councillors for their lapses, the minister said, "They're elected representatives. As per the law elected representatives can take action against them. In compliance of the law, the minister concerned will take action in this regard."
Mentioning that the DCs have raised 27 demands in the meeting, Ashraf said that the logical ones will be solved in phases.
Another report adds: LGRD Minister and Awami League (AL) general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said Wednesday that the ruling party is happy over the maritime boundary verdict settling a long-pending dispute with India.
"We're very happy over the verdict. Thanks to India for accepting the verdict. The Prime Minister has proved that it's possible to settle unsettled issues through court without waging any war," he said.
Ashraf said this while addressing a rally prior to bringing out a victory procession by Awami League Dhaka city unit at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city.
"We've got our due share through the legal process. There was no need to go to court as the problem could be solved through discussion. But we had to go to court as Myanmar and India didn't agree on holding talks. Now both Myanmar and India have accepted the verdicts," he added.
Syed Ashraf said it is a matter of regret that governments in the past failed to go the international court. "But, it's Sheikh Hasina who did it. And here is the difference between Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina. Sheikh Hasina does everything to protect the country's interests."
With the verdict on the maritime boundary dispute with India, Bangladesh gained some 19,467 square kilometers of maritime areas at the Bay of Bengal out of the disputed approximately 25,602 square kilometers.