Ashraf warns of 'danger' if upazila debate turns worse

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday alleged that some sections of the media have been stoking the opposition to the recently passed upazila parishad law.
He said this kind of provocation might lead to a dangerous situation. If parliament deems that upazila parishads are not functioning properly, it can abolish the local government tier. And a one-line bill will suffice to do so.
"Such instances are there in our country. Soon after Khaleda Zia came to power in 1991, she sacked all the upazila chairmen with a stroke of the pen. Later, the upazila laws too were repealed by the House," he told reporters at the secretariat.
His comments came a day after upazila chairmen and vice-chairmen threatened to declare the lawmakers persona non grata in their constituencies.
The newly elected local government officials have been calling for cancellation of the Upazila Parishad Act 2009 as it curtails their authority and requires them to accept the local MPs' advice.
Syed Ashraf said everyone should give the new law time. "I have suggested the upazila chairmen have patience. If this law does not work, parliament can always change it."
The government is planning to change the laws regarding city corporations and municipalities as well, he added.