They want to get rid of Pourasabha

They are agitating for the last few days for dissolution of Akhaura Pourasabha, declared in 1999. They say rural areas have been included in the Pourasabha and new taxes imposed without any service whatsoever.

On February 14, Akawra Upazila Ngorik Adikar O Unoyan Committee (a committee for citizens rights and development) held a rally at the Motor Stand to press their demand.

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The rally gave a July 30 deadline for its dissolution and threatened of tougher action programmes including rail-road blockade for non-compliance.

With Committee President Md Tajul Islam in the chair, the rally was addressed by, among others, Principal MA Muhammad Ishak (Bir Prothik), former Bhairab District Council member MA Taher, Committee General Secretary SM Shahjada Khadem, Akaura BNP acting president Ranjan Ghosh and its secretary NM Hasan Khan, Md Yousuf Sarwar, Md Hasib Humayun; Abub Mansur, Akawra Juba Dal President Sahadat Hossain Liton, Abul Farook, Chhatra Dal Secretary Jakir Hossain and Jamat-e-Islami leader Billal Hossain.

Local people say they had protested soon after formation of the pourasabha because they knew they would have to pay more taxes without any service.

However, the first chairman election of the pourashava was held smoothly on February 12, 2002. But agitation started in 2003 when taxes were imposed, they said.

But Pourashava Chairman Md Nurul Haque Buiyan, a local Awami League leader, says the agitation is a conspiracy against him by those who lost in the polls.

He said, after consultation with higher authorities, some taxes have been waived for three years. The people would be able to enjoy civic amenities without taxes for three years. "So the plea of taxes is not correct".