UZ chairmen threaten to declare MPs 'unwanted'
Thursday, 16 April 2009
Upazila porishod chairmen have threatened to declare local MPs "persona non grata", if authority is not restored to the local councils in line with a 2008 ordinance passed by the caretaker government, reports bdnews24.com.
The chairmen have demanded cancellation of the much-debated Upazila Parishad Act 2009, passed by the parliament on April 6, which restored powers of MPs over the councils and made it mandatory for chairmen to accept MP recommendations as ex-officio advisers to the country's 481 upazila parishad.
"The new law must be amended to allow the upazila system to function," Muhibur Rahman, chairman of Sylhet Bishwanath upazila, told a press conference in Dhaka Wednesday.
"We will carry on a legal battle with this aim. We will put pressure on the government," said Muhibur who heads the newly formed pressure group.
The head of the 'upazila chairman and vice chairman forum' said making MPs' advice "compulsory" was against the constitution.
"Development of the country will undoubtedly be hampered, if the autonomous upazila system is forced under the wings of the parliament," said another chairman attending the conference. "We cannot allow it to happen," he said.
A number of chairmen and vice chairmen attended the press conference.
The chairmen have demanded cancellation of the much-debated Upazila Parishad Act 2009, passed by the parliament on April 6, which restored powers of MPs over the councils and made it mandatory for chairmen to accept MP recommendations as ex-officio advisers to the country's 481 upazila parishad.
"The new law must be amended to allow the upazila system to function," Muhibur Rahman, chairman of Sylhet Bishwanath upazila, told a press conference in Dhaka Wednesday.
"We will carry on a legal battle with this aim. We will put pressure on the government," said Muhibur who heads the newly formed pressure group.
The head of the 'upazila chairman and vice chairman forum' said making MPs' advice "compulsory" was against the constitution.
"Development of the country will undoubtedly be hampered, if the autonomous upazila system is forced under the wings of the parliament," said another chairman attending the conference. "We cannot allow it to happen," he said.
A number of chairmen and vice chairmen attended the press conference.