Biswanath upazila administration has sent proposals to the higher authorities to suspend seven union parishad (UP) chairmen as they have been charge-sheeted in a case for vandalising public property during a hartal in the upazila on April 23.
BNP enforced the hartal in the upazila on the day to mount pressure on the government to return its “missing” leader Ilias Ali.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sonamoni Chakma sent the proposals to the ministry concerned through the deputy commissioner of Sylhet on June 14. He also sent the names of the panel chairmen for approval.
Contacted, the UNO told this correspondent that he had sent the proposals to the ministry concerned for suspending the UP chairmen as police pressed charges against them in a case for vandalism at the upazila complex on April 23.
He said the ministry has already approved the names of the panel chairmen and asked them to perform their duties. Some of them have taken over the charge.
The BNP-backed chairmen are also accused in several other cases for vandalism at the upazila complex during hartal hours. Three people were killed and 50 others were injured in a clash between the pro-hartal men and police.
Immediately after the incidents, police filed separate cases accusing 8,000 opposition activists, including the seven UP chairmen.
A number of members of the seven union parishads have opposed the panel chairmen, alleging that proposals for suspension of the chairmen were not sent following the union parishad rules.
Denying the allegation, the UNO said he has done the job as per provisions of the union parishad rules.