Women UP members inactive as male colleagues non-cooperate

They are also totally unaware about their job description.

Participants disclosed this at a dialogue on Role of Mass Media in Strengthening Local Governments held in Comilla town on Monday.

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The Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC) and the Comilla Press Club jointly organised it in assistance with the USAID-funded Local Government Initiative ARD.

While dwelling on the issue, the FPAB President, Papri Basu underscored the need for requisite educational qualification and skill development of women candidates contesting in the UP polls. Male members usually show their apathy towards their female colleagues. Because women members lack required consciousness, they have social limitations and other weaknesses, he mentioned.

Former President of Comilla Press Club and local correspondent of Dainik Ittefaq Golam Mostafa Chowdhury presided over the meeting. Journalists, local government representatives, government officials and civil society took part in the dialogue.

Participants drew the attention of mass media in educating people about their rights and privileges. Citing an example they said people blamed the municipality staff for a job which is meant for the Roads and Highways Department personnel. As a result a big gap is being created between the people and local governments, they gave their opinions.

They called upon the press to publish well-informed and investigative stories regularly so that confusions in this regard are removed.

BCDJC Assistant Editor Mahfuza Jasmine welcomed the participants during the opening session while the press club General Secretary (GS) and Dainik Bhorer Kagoj Correspondent Syed Nurur Rahman conducted the dialogue.

Most of the participants suggested an immediate end to political interference in different local government tiers, stoppage of unwanted meddling of the centre and above all creation of own fund of the respective institutions.

Among others, Comilla Pourasabha Commissioner Jamir Uddin Jampi, Durgapur UP Chairman Obaidul Kabir Mohon, Comilla Lalmai College Assistant Professor Ali Hossain and the press club GS Syed Nurur Rahman spoke.