That's how a Gram Sarkar is born

With a feeble applause from the small audience, the 15 became Gram Sarkar members without any voting.

A young man, Mozammel Haq, protested.

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A local BNP leader ran to him and asked, "How old are you?"

"Twenty-two years sir," he replied.

The BNP leader said grumpily, "Go home. You will not understand Gram Sarkar until you reach 25."

Thus was formed the Gram Sarkar committee in Ward No 1 in Itakhola union under Nilphamari Sadar upazila on Thursday.

Nilphamari Sadar Upazila Statistics Officer Samsul Islam conducted the programme as representative of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).

Four-Party Alliance and Jamaat leader Moniruzzaman Montu, District BNP Joint Convenor Mostofa Haq Prodhan Bachchu and other BNP and Jamaat leaders were present.

With formation of the committee on Chowdhury Para Forkania Madrassa premises, the process began in all the 15 unions of Nilphamari Sadar upazila.

Monwar Hossen of the village was sitting at a corner. He had no ready reply when asked about functions of the Gram Sarkar. "I don't know", he said after a while.

Zarina, Kohinoor, Hazera said they thought it was a BNP meeting and so they came to listen.

At one stage, some visibly agitated BNP workers at the village encircled Mostafa Haq Prodhan Bachchu.

They complained to him that the entire committee was formed with Jamaat workers.

As the meeting was nearing its end, the confused-looking audience became restless and somewhat indisciplined. They left the venue, many of them murmuring.

When asked, local Awami League leader Mizanur Rahman alleged that no other party except BNP was invited. He alleged that members of the Gram Sarkar committee were made in exchange of money.

"This is completely an undemocratic process. There was no participation of the masses", said Hedayet Ali Fakir, Chairman of Itakhola Union Parishad, who was present there. UP members Moninur Rahmani and Surot Ali echoed.