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Hold polls to 524 UPs in 8 northern districts

Bangladesh Union Parishad Forum demands

Our Correspondent, Niiphamari
Bangladesh Union Parishad Forum (BUPF) has demanded election in 524 Union Parishads (UPs) in eight northern districts whose tenure expired much earlier.
BUPF central committee vice president Ataharul Islam Bulbul told this correspondent yesterday the forum leaders urged the CEC to hold local government polls including upazila elections immediately for smooth development in the areas as well as strengthening local government institutions.
Five-year term of the 524 UPs expired several months ago affecting local development, UP sources said. But the UP leaders are still conducting their activities as per directives of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives.
The ministry, in an ordinance, asked the term-expired UP chairmen and members to continue their official .activities until, and
unless fresh elections are held.
There are 534 UPs in Rangpur, Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts.
Elections were held in 524 UPs between January 25 and March 16 in 2003. Their five-year term expired between January to March this year.
Of these, terms of 81 out of 83 UPs expired in Rangpur, 99 out of 101 UPs expired in Dinajpur, 80 out of 82 UPs expired in Gaibandha, 72 out of 73 UPs expired in Kurigram, 40 out of 42 UPs expired in Lalmonirhat, 59 out of 60 UPs expired in Nilphamari. Terms of all 51 UPs and 42 UPs expired in Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts respectively.
When contacted, Kurigram district election officer Md Jilhazuddin said he is yet to get directives for holding UP elections from the Election Commission in Dhaka. -
Lalmonirhat district election officer Mir Md Shahjahan said they are now busy in holding the upcoming upazila and parliamentry elections scheduled to be completed by December.
Nilphamari district election officer Sakander Ali expressed his ignorance about holding UP elections in near future.
On contact, the president of Nilphamari district unit of BUPF, Shajahan Chowdhury said people gave us five years' mandate. On expiry of the term, UP leaders lose their rights to run local government bodies, he said.
The president of Gaibandha unit of BUPF, Mozammel Haque is of the opinion to hold election to local government bodies' without further delay.
Rangpur regional office deputy election commisssioner Suvash Chandra Sarkar said the question of UP elections might come after holding of upazila and pariiamen taryelections’. " J