Appointment of Zila Administrators
Government violates constitution: Hafiz
The government violated the constitution by appointing administrators to zila parishads (district councils), said M Hafiz Uddin Khan, former adviser to a caretaker government, yesterday.
According to the constitution, there is no option to appoint administrators in local government institutions as they are supposed to be run by people's elected representatives, he said.
Hafiz Uddin was presiding over a discussion, “Present situation of local government and what needs to be done”, organised by Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) in the city's Jatiya Press Club.
On December 15, the government appointed administrators to 61 zila parishads, most of whom are top Awami League leaders of the districts.
“We can not expect human rights and democracy to be protected in a country where the constitution is violated at state level,” said Hafiz Uddin.
Addressing the discussion, Shujan Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar said the government's decision to split Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) was imprudent.
Though the government claims that the DCC split was to increase facilities to city dwellers, in reality, the decision was politically motivated and did not follow legal procedures, he said.
Due to the “peculiar” decision to appoint administrators, the parishads have become a conflict zone between the upazila nirbahi officer, the local parliament member and the upazila chairman or vice-chairmen.
Another adviser to a caretaker government ASM Shahjahan alleged that both the previous and present governments weakened the local government institutions instead of strengthening them.
Former Dhaka University vice-chancellor Prof Moniruzzaman Miah and a number of vice-chairmen of different upazilas from across the country spoke at the discussion.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments