Why the upazilla election?

---

Both the BNP and the Awami League stated in their election manifestos only a year ago that they would work for decentralisation and development of the local government on going to power. But these commitments seem to have been made ritualistically, without signifying any special importance attached to them. Hence, the utter lack of will on the part of the present elected government to honour what was stated in their election manifesto about strengthening the local government.
It seems that the government has no intention to change the old ways of running things at the local level. The Upazilla Nirbahi Officers (UNOSs) and other higher officers in the central bureaucracy are carrying on doing things in the old style. Furthermore, the members of parliament (MPs) have been made the bosses of the upazilla chairmen and upazilla council members in all respects and the former are breathing down the necks of the latter.
The local government ordinance made by the caretaker government was rejected by the incumbents in power but they have retained very much the status quo at the local level. So, the question cannot help but arise: why were the upazilla elections held at such costs when elected persons are now prevented from discharging their due responsibilities. Why this great waste of resources and finances? Why this farce ?

A S M Sulaiman
Gulshan, Dhaka.