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Now govt can appoint administrator for UPs

Local govt amendment bill passed in parliament
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
The Local Government (Union Parishad) (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed in Parliament yesterday, introducing a provision for appointing administrators to union parishads after the elected representatives’ five-year tenure expires.
LGRD Minister M Tazul Islam presented the bill, which was passed by voice vote. The new legislation stipulates that the government can appoint administrators for up to 120 days after the end of a Union Parishad’s tenure.
With the proposed change, no Union Parishad chairman can remain in office beyond their term on any pretext. The current loophole allowing chairmen to stay in office past their term will be eliminated.
The post of UP secretary has been changed to “UP Administrative Officer” under the new law.
Under the new legislation, a competent officer or person will be appointed as an administrator to perform a Union Parishad’s functions until a newly-elected council is formed.
This measure is expected to curb the practice of delaying elections through litigation.
The bill emphasises the Union Parishad’s role in managing village courts and maintaining law and order, aiming to expand the effectiveness of village court activities.

475 workplace deaths in last six months

Says Safety, Rights Society data
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
At least 475 workers died in 420 accidents at various workplaces across the country in the first six months of 2024.
Safety and Rights Society released the data yesterday after conducting a survey based on news published in 15 national and 11 local newspapers.
In the same period in 2023, around 389 workers died in 287 accidents.
SRS has found that the highest number of workers were killed in the transport sector.
Of the total number, 250 transport workers died in this period, 74 died in service establishments (such as workshops, gas, electricity supply establishments), 66 in agricultural sector, 52 in construction, and 33 died in factories and other manufacturing institutes.
SRS Executive Director Sekender Ali Mina said Bangladesh’s production and employment depend on the informal sector, where labour laws are largely unenforced, making it challenging to control workplace accidents.
Supervision by relevant authorities must be increased to control workplace accidents, he added.