UP chairmen, members demand poll schedules without delay

Rangamati district unit of Bangladesh Union Parishad Forum organises a press conference at a restaurant at Banarupa in Rangamati town yesterday demanding early announcement of union parishad (UP) election schedule and withdrawal of two recent government circulars that curbed the power of UPs. Photo: STAR

Bangladesh Union Parishad Forum (BUPF), a countrywide organisation of UP chairmen and members, yesterday urged the government to meet their three-point demand including early announcement of election schedules for all union parishads that expired tenures.
Following a press conference attended by 23 UP chairmen at Chilies Restaurant in Rajshahi city yesterday noon, the BUPF leaders submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office and the Election Commission through the Rajshahi deputy commissioner, reports our staff correspondent from Rajshahi.
They demanded immediate announcement of election schedules for all time expired union councils, cancellation of the Section 34 of the Union Parishad Act 2009 and two circulars issued by the disaster and relief management, and women and children affairs ministries.
Development activities of the UPs are being affected as elections have not been held even five years after expiry of the tenure of the UP chairmen, they said.
Section 34 of the UP Act empowers the district administration to suspend any UP chairman just for being accused in any criminal case but this provision is not consistent with the constitution's spirit for empowering the local government, they said.
Following a circular of the Women and Children Affairs Ministry, politically chosen people were included in the government's Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) implementation committees at UPs although law empowers UP chairmen to implement the programme.
Another circular of the Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management transferred the union parishad's responsibility of implementing development projects to the upazila parishads.
The BUPF leaders demanded withdrawal of the two circulars.
Similar programmes were also held in 15 other districts of the division to press home the demands, said Bazle Rizvi Al Hasan Munjil, president of Rajshahi divisional unit of BUPF.
Our Gaibandha Correspondent reports: Union parishad chairmen and members of Gaibandha district have warned of greater movement if their three-point demand is not met shortly.
District unit leaders of Bangladesh Union Parishad Forum submitted a memorandum to the Gaibandha deputy commissioner for its transmission to the prime minister in this respect.
Speakers at a brief meeting on the premises of the deputy commissioner's office urged withdrawal of the two recently issued circular of the Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management and the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs for the greater interest of democracy.
They also demanded repeal of section 34 of Union Parishad Act and declaration of election schedule for union parishads.
Our Rangamati Correspondent adds: Chairmen and members of different union parishads (UP) in Rangamati district at a press conference yesterday demanded meeting their three-point demand including declaration of UP election schedule, withdrawal of the two recent circulars that curb the power of UPs and annulment of Section 34 of Union Parishad Act.
Demanding the same, they also sent a memorandum to the prime minister through Rangamati deputy commissioner.
Urging empowerment of the UP chairmen and members for the sake of strengthening the local government system, they said the UP chairmen and members have been working relentlessly for the welfare of the backward people as they remain close to the people of rural areas.