UZ system not cancelled, polls after cabinet approval

"The government had formed a committee to review the matter and it has already submitted the report. Now, we are waiting for the approval of the cabinet," he said responding to a query from the journalists at a press conference at his ministry.

Pressed further, the minister said, "There was no decision that the upazila parishad election would not be held, rather the issue was that when and how the elections would be held."

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Mannan said the government reintroduced the Gram Sarker to expedite the rural development and a total of Tk 20 crore was spent in last fiscal.

He said steps were also taken to empower the women members at union parishads so that they can participate in development process.

Replying to another query, he claimed that all roads, bridges and other infrastructures under his ministry, which were damaged by recent flooding, have been mad operatives on emergency basis.

Mannan also detailed about various development programmes of his ministry and the steps taken in last three years for improving the local government bodies.

He said the government is quite aware of arsenic problem which will be resolved with the implementation of various projects that have been taken.

Mannan said his ministry has recovered 225 acres of lands from illegal occupants.

He claimed that cases of corruption and misappropriation of money in his ministry have declined following punitive actions against the corrupt people.

He said a plant will be set up soon to supply bottled water at cheaper price.

State Minister for LGRD Ziaul Haque Zia was present at the conference.