Conflict with MPs to hinder development

The current conflict between lawmakers and upazila chairmen may lead to political unrest and impasse in the country's development unless a mutually convenient policy is undertaken, said speakers at a seminar yesterday. The seminar entitled “The conflict between members of parliament and upazila chairmen: Recent crisis in local government,” and hosted by Neeti Gobeshona Kendra was held at Jatiya Press Club in the morning. It was presided over by political scientist Prof Emajuddin Ahmed.“If the existing conflict between lawmakers and upazila chairmen tends to a settlement in the court of law, it will definitely create political unrest and impasse in development activities in the country,” said Prof Salahuddin M Aminuzzaman.“Around 60,000 representatives of people in upazila parishad have been manacled by enacting the law that authorised lawmakers as advisers to upazila parishads,” said Badiul Alam Majumder, general secretary of Shushashoner Jonney Nagorik (Sujan).“None of the local government bodies-- zila parishad, upazila parishad and union parishad-- is subordinate to one another. So leaders of these institutions must come out of the mindset of establishing supremacy. Leadership from the local government will be required to materialize the charter,” he added.“There is no problem if someone becomes an adviser. But it must be looked into so that advice does not turn into order. There must be a specific written code of responsibilities for upazila chairmen and vice chairmen,” said Prof Emajuddin Ahmed.Salahuddin M Aminuzzaman presented the keynote-paper in the seminar. He made some recommendations to resolve the problem. His suggestions include analysing the crisis and finding a solution in line with the constitution, formulating a policy for decentralisation, formulating integrated code for local government, advocacy on local issues and problems by the lawmakers, and holding local government elections among party-nominated candidates as the national elections.Lawmaker Rahmat Ali said the legislative, executive, and judiciary have authority in their own sectors. They are complementary to each other but people are supreme.Lawmaker Shammi Akhter, Awami League organizing secretary Mahmudur Rahman Manna and upazila parishad Chairman Nazrul Islam Khan, also spoke at the seminar, among others. Mahbubul Haque Ripon, director of Neeti Gobeshona Kendro, conducted the seminar.