Editorial
Government must revisit the Upazila Parishad Act
Chairmen's behaviour unacceptable
A group of elected upazila parishad officials, calling themselves the Bangladesh Upazila Chairmen Forum, have threatened to declare Members of Parliament in their local areas persona non grata unless the government revokes the just-passed Upazila Parishad Act empowering MPs to exercise authority over UP chairmen and members. The grievances of the UP representatives are perfectly understandable. But that does not obscure the fact that what they have done through their action is not only objectionable but also highly outrageous. The verbal and body language they have employed to make their sentiments known points clearly to things ominous. If these chairmen and other upazila representatives have their way, one can be sure that the country is in for some troubled times, especially where local government is concerned.
The UP representatives have without question overstepped the limits of acceptable behaviour by doing what they have done. They have a point though, essentially concerning the dilution or emasculation of authority that the upazila parishads will go through once MPs begin to exercise their powers over them. The passage of the Upazila Parishad Act 2009 has now led to a situation where lawmakers cannot but be on a potentially confrontational course with elected upazila chairmen and members. That in turn will likely lead to conflicts and squabbles over dominance within the local branches of political parties, to the detriment of the people inhabiting particular local regions. A direct casualty of such a condition can only be the projected economic and social development of the regions. We are of the opinion that before moving so stubbornly on the Upazila Parishad Act, the government ought to have given serious thought to the consequences that would result from such a move. Now it has not only been seen to appease MPs by accepting their demand for supervision of upazila activities but has also conveniently moved miles away from the draft it itself made during its earlier stint in power in the late 1990s.
Citizens for the most part, it should be clear by now, do not look forward to much of the positive happening once the Upazila Parishad Act 2009 is set in motion. That is a good enough reason for the government, indeed for all Members of Parliament, to revisit the entire issue of local government and consider the ways in which the damage already done can be rolled back. By passing the Act, the government has, consciously or otherwise, created a rift between the elected representatives of the people, at the local and national levels. It has bulldozed the entire law through the Jatiya Sangsad without much of a thought to public feelings and upazila representatives' sentiments.
It can now redeem itself only by stepping back, taking stock of the situation and taking corrective measures. Let it be noted that local government, because it springs from the grassroots, cannot be treated with cavalier unconcern. But if it is, the results can be deeply disturbing.
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