Chairman should have highest status in upazila parishad

Says Prof Muzaffer

12 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Chairman of the Upazila Parishad should be given the highest status in the upazila parishad and no one should have the similar status, Prof Muzaffer Ahmad said yesterday. “According to the amendments brought to the Upazila Parishad Act, the upazila chairman and the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) will enjoy the same status as they will be called 'Prodhan' and 'Mukhya' in Bangla. Both the words mean the same thing,” he told reporters. The government will face troubles if it makes the upazila parishad ineffective, he added. Prof Muzaffer said this after attending a roundtable on 'Local government: Problems, prospects and duties' organised by Sushashoner Janney Nagorik (Sujan) at the National Press Club. The upazila parishad should be given a big chunk from the national budget, Sujan President Prof Muzaffer said and suggested bringing an amendment to the constitution to this end. The local government should also be strengthened to address disparity in development, income and opportunities at grassroots level, he said. Awami League leader Mahmudur Rahman Manna, columnist and researcher Syed Abul Maksud, former vice chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Muniruzzaman Miah, chairman of Nalitabari Upazila Parishad Badiuzzaman Badsha also spoke at the roundtable. Badsha said the upazila chairmen virtually don't have any work to do. “The upazila parishad has been made disabled. We want to work.” “There would be no problem if MPs are made advisers to upazila parishad, but it should not be mandatory to implement the advices of MPs,” he said. General Secretary of Sujan Badiul Alam Majumder read out a keynote speech prepared by local government specialist Dr Tofail Ahmed at the roundtable moderated by former IGP ASM Shahjahan. In the keynote speech, Dr Tofail suggested that the upazila chairmen and vice chairmen formulate a development plan for their respective areas and mobilise public opinion for it.