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Upazila Parishads

Women representatives feel ignored

Staff Correspondent
Female vice-chairmen of upazila parishads throughout the country could not begin their jobs even after four months of their election as the government is yet to issue any circular regarding the newly created posts.
The elected women representatives yesterday said at a programme in the city that even they have not been given any sitting arrangements at the upazila parishad offices while they are rarely allowed to play their role in development activities in their area.
They pointed out that the recently passed Upazila Parishad Bill also does not mention any guidelines for them.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad organised a view-exchange meeting at the Biam audito-
rium yesterday to accord a reception to the female upazila vice chairpersons of the country. A total of 300 elected women were present on the occasion.
The additional post of vice-chairperson at the upazila parishads of the country has been created this year, exclusively for female candidates. Although the post is reserved for women, candidates are elected by direct voting.
Shamim Ara Dulari, an elected vice chairperson from Cox's Bazar, said, "I have not been able to take pan in any of the development work in my area as there is no work plan for my post yet. There is also no sitting arrangement formeat the office."
Advocate Amena Begum from Patuakhali
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said, “We want a proper direction of work, equal involvement in development activities and equal allocation of funds to be able to execute them."
Others pointed out that the local UNO and MPs still have the last word on any development work in their areas.
During the upazila election in January this year. 1936 women candidates contested 480 seats across the country. A total of 475 women were elected.
Ayesha Khanom. chairperson of BMP said, empowerment of women has to be ensured from the grassroots level by increasing their representation.
She urged all the elected women to create their own forum, and to work as a pressure group in the parliamentary standing committees to ensure implementation of women's rights.
Ayesha also noted that the government's recent decision to appoint local lawmakers as advisers to the upazila parishad would act as a barrier to the democratic running of the local government.
Among others, Maieka Banu, general secretary of BMP, Prof Salahuddin M Anisuzzaman of the department of public administration at DU spoke on the occasion.