Editorial
Upazila chairmen's desperate call for empowerment
Make them functional in the real sense
AFTER subjecting elected upazila parishads to a roller-coaster ride virtually turning these powerless, thanks to MPs' extending control over them and the UNOs' defiant streak, the prime minister now announces that her government will delineate responsibilities of MPs, upazila chairmen and UNOs. For months together, there have been amendments to laws through cabinet discussions and parliamentary proceedings and issuance of circulars and different notifications apart from public positionings whereby the powers and functions of the upazila chairmen and vice-chairmen where effectively curtailed. It involved grant of mandatory advisory role to the MPs over the upazilas.
Yet, when in the case of municipalities or pourashavas, the MP's advisory role was withdrawn, one had expected that the same principle will apply to the upazila parishads too. This hasn't happened. Now, one has to wait and see if the prime minister's promised redefining of the role will entail this change also.
One cannot but sit up and take note of the fact that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has, after 14months of being in power, now says in a meeting with upazila chairmen that the government will rethink, redefine and clearly delineate the responsibilities between the MPs, upazila chairmen and the UNOs. Could she not come up with a changed reform text to chime in with the occasion? What could be more appropriate for her to unveil a concrete plan of action at the workshop delineating powers and functions between the two sets of important elected representatives with a view to leaving the MPs with their constitutionally designated role and investing the elected upazila chairmen with powers to operate autonomously towards strengthening the upazila system as a cornerstone of participatory democracy?
The prime minister has just voiced an intent for change but she has not given any time-line for it -- for instance, when will the delineation of authority be announced, how long will it take to implement this and through what mechanism will the changes be brought about? This is a serious matter of fundamental nature having to do with constitutional and elected bodies. Already a long time has elapsed through messing up of the traditional equations between the MPs, upazila chairmen and UNOs which have been substantially unsettled. Seeds of conflict have been bred between two sets of elected public representatives with bureaucrats setting sails accordingly. This is a far cry from the electorate's expectation who want all components of the government working in a healthy ambience of cooperation, mutual trust and dedication.
Unless, these fundamentals are ensured nothing worthwhile can be achieved by gifting duty-free pajero jeeps, improving perks and prerogatives that have nothing to do with the actual exercise of power for the good of the people.
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