Amend UZ act to resolve crisis
The 11-party, a partner of the ruling Awami League-led grand alliance, yesterday said that giving authority to lawmakers in upazila parishad in the Upazila Parishad Act 2009 goes against the sprit of the independent local government system and such a provision is inconsistent with the constitution.
The leaders of the party also expressed concern as what it said 'the government and the upazila chairmen are at loggerheads' over the power in upazila parishad and suggested resolving the problem with patience bringing necessary amendments to the act. They also termed the remarks of a minister regarding upazila parishad 'irresponsible'.
They said these at a meeting held at Gonotantri Party office in the city, which was attended, among others, by Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon MP, General Secretary Bimal Biswas, Haji Abdus Samad and Afzal Hossain of Gonotantri Party.
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam on Thursday said if parliament deems that upazila parishads are not functioning properly, it can abolish the tire of local government. And a one-line bill will suffice to do so.
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 representatives 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.
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