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Hold local govt polls before JS election

UP leaders demand at Rajshahi divisional meet

Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi
Local government leaders in Rajshahi division yesterday demanded holding of upazila and Union Parishad elections before parliamentary polls to make them free of influence of lawmakers.
At a divisional conference here, they also called upon political parties to support their demand, saying it is within the Constitution.
They reiterated their 12-point demand and threatened of launching 'countrywide agitation' if those are not accepted.
Rajshahi divisional unit of Bangladesh Union Parishad Oikya Jote (BUPOJ) organised the meeting, held at Rajshahi district councilauditorium.
Some 600 UP chairmen and 1200 members attended the meeting, also joined by local elite.
Acting mayor of Rajshahi City
Corporation M Rejaun Nabi was the chief guest at the meeting, chaired by Bazle Rizvi Al Hasan Munjil, president of Rajshahi divi sionalunitofBUPOJ.
lit was addressed by BUPOJ chairman Mahabubur Rahman, secretary general Matiur Rahman Sujon and at least a dozen local government leaders from districts under Rajshahi divison.
The speakers also called upon the government and the election commission to have dialogue with local government representatives as part of its programme for talks with political parties. Local governments represent the grassroots level people and their views should also be taken into consideration in fixing national issues, they said
Local government institution is the 'foundation of democracy' but these are now ineffective and weak following interference by lawmak-
ersand officials, they said
A section of lawmakers were involved in corruption as they were all in all in their areas because of ineffective local governments, they said.
Empowering local governments will also help reduce corruption, besides accelerating development at grassroots level, hey said.
The speakers said, the caretaker government and the election commission wants to hold upazila elections before national elections, but some political parties object to it as they (parties) have something to loss in it.
The other demands Include implementation of recommendations of LG strengthening committee, setting up of an independent LG commission, increasing honorarium of UP chairmen and members and re-fixing their status.