Scrap UZ law or face movement

A group of upazila parishad chairmen yesterday threatened to go for movement if the government does not cancel the proposed Upazila Parishad Act, 2009 that allows lawmakers to meddle in the affairs of upazila parishads.
The upazila chairmen hinted this at a press briefing at Jatiya Press Club.
They said the upazila parishad must be an independent body and free from interference by the lawmakers for strengthening the local government bodies.
Terming the proposed act 'illegal and unconstitutional', speakers also said if the government passes the proposed act, it would be suicidal for it.
“If the bill is passed, it would be suicidal for the government. We have pledged before the voters to bring a change through the elections. We must have independence in local government,” said Abul Kalam Azad Badal, Uzirpur upazila parishad chairman from Barisal district.
“I hope the government would not do anything which will be illegal and unconstitutional,” Justice Golam Rabbani said.
“Making local government absolutely independent is one of the foundations of our constitution. And independence does not mean ensuring franchise. Direct participation of people in policy making is ensured by the constitution and there is no other rule to go beyond it,” he added.
“This is a bill to empower the lawmakers but no fresh word or sentence was included during scrutiny of the bill to empower people,” said Harun-Or-Rashid Hawlader, upazila chairman of Dumki upazila under Patuakhali district.
Good governance cannot be ensured if lawmakers take control of the law they make, he said.
Governance Advocacy Forum, an NGO, organised the press briefing.
Speakers observed that if the proposed recommendations are included in the bill meant to reintroduce the now-defunct Upazila Parishad Act 1998, the lawmakers will get more power as parishad advisers than they had enjoyed under the 1998 act.
The now-defunct Upazila Parishad Act 1998 says the lawmakers will be advisers of upazila parishads in their constituencies and the parishads will seek their suggestions, the speakers pointed out.
But in addition to reintroducing the previous provision, the parliamentary body has recommended inclusion of new provisions that make mandatory for the parishads to consult with the lawmakers before making any communication with the government, they said.
The parishads will also have to consult with the local lawmakers for preparing development plans before sending it to the government. They will have to send copies of minutes of their meetings to the lawmakers when they send those to the government, speakers said.