UP bldg complete but chairman keeps out

Although the union parishad office building was completed about two years ago, the chairman of Dholigour Nagar union in Bhola prefers to work at a studio. PHOTO: STAR

To the relief of villagers, the union parishad building of Dholigour Nagar at Bauria of Lalmohan upazila was completed in 2011 at a cost of more than Tk 84 lakh.
With separate provisions for ICT office, tax collection, issuance of birth and nationality certificates, agricultural wings and the family planning office, the purpose-built new building had all the provisions that an union parishad office would require.
But the new building remains totally unused till today. The chairman of the union parishad, Hedayetul Islam Mintu, refuses to move to the new building as it is a little far from his residence and business.
Now, all work of this local government is run from a small shop called Niloy Digital Studio, next to the business house of Islam at Mangalsikder Bazar.
“Since the present office is on one side of the union boundary, we need to travel a long distance to avail the services,” Said Md Yusuf of Chatla village.

In his area as the UP office is a little far from his residence. PHOTO: STAR

“It would be easier for everyone to go to the new building in the middle of the union boundary,” he added.
Jahar Lal Das, secretary of the UP, said that it has become tough for him to run official job from a tiny room.
Chairman Hedayetul Islam Mintu said that local MP Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shaon (Bhola-3) will inaugurate the UP building on October 18 and after that the office would be shifted to the new building.