Shahjahan Ali Manon, Saidpur (Nilphamari) Representative:
The UP Chairman has been absent day after day due to being on the run as he is accused in a sabotage case during the July-August uprising. Despite being arrested, jailed, released on bail and not fulfilling his duties, he has managed the administration and maintained his position as Chairman by showing his presence in the attendance register.
Although the chairman gets his usual facilities, the residents of Kamarpukur union in Saidpur upazila of Nilphamari are suffering because they cannot come to the council office for urgent needs and do not get services. In this situation, there is a demand to take legal action against the former president of the union Awami League and UP chairman Anwar Hossain.
When I went to the Union Parishad at 2 pm on Sunday (February 23), I saw that the chairman's office was open but the chairman was not there. 20-25 people were waiting for the chairman in the Parishad premises for various tasks. When asked, UP Secretary Rashidul Islam said that the chairman came in the morning. He went out a while ago. However, Asad said that he had been waiting since morning to receive the present service, but the chairman was not seen.
Sources allege that the office is being kept open and the public is being deceived. In fact, the chairman does not come regularly. Sometimes, even when he comes, he leaves after only 10-15 minutes. One day, he comes and signs the attendance book for a week. The chairman has been neglecting his duties like this since August 5, but the administration is silent. Even after being arrested in a sabotage case, no legal action has been taken against him. However, for the same reason, the chairman of Bangalipur Union in Saidpur Upazila has been dismissed and the responsibility has been given to the panel chairman.
Abdur Rahim, a man from his home in the union, said, "My mother passed away a few days ago. I have been coming to the council for the past 10 days to get my mother's TCB card changed to my wife's or my own name. Despite waiting from morning till evening, the chairman has not appeared and the work is not being done due to lack of his signature. He is not even picking up his mobile phone, saying that he will go there to get his signature if he knows where he is. As a result, I have been in extreme suffering."
Another resident of Chowdhurypara area named Abul Hossain said, "I have a voter ID card. But I am not getting the birth registration certificate. So I have been coming to the council for the last few days for a copy of the birth certificate. Even though I have received a print copy of the birth certificate, it is stuck for the chairman to verify. Even though I come every morning and evening, I cannot get hold of the chairman. Whenever I come, I see that the office is open but the chairman is not there."
When asked, the village police and secretary all said that the chairman was there all this time. He just went out. However, I have heard from many people that he did not come. This is how we are being cheated. Every day, hundreds of union residents come to do necessary work and are disturbed when they do not find the chairman. But the administration is not taking any action.
Meanwhile, due to the absence of the chairman, all the work of the council has come to a standstill. In addition to daily work, the members, secretaries and other employees are facing problems in carrying out urgent public work. Even the journalists are being harassed when they go to get any information. When asked about some ongoing projects, the UP secretary, assistant secretary, female member and ward member could not provide any information. They do not know anything about it as the chairman is doing the work himself. Even though the secretary called the chairman on his mobile, he did not receive the call.
Some ward members who did not want to be named said, "Due to the absence of the chairman, we are not able to provide the services to the ward residents as required. There is no development work anyway. On top of that, if we cannot complete even the small necessary tasks of the people on time, how will we answer the locals? If this continues, how will we seek votes in the upcoming elections? We are in such a situation because the chairman is an Awami League leader and is an accused in a case and is on the run. They demanded the immediate intervention of the higher authorities of the administration to alleviate the suffering of the union residents due to this deprivation of services."
Although repeated calls were made to Kamarpukur Union Parishad Chairman and former Union Awami League President Anwar Hossain Sarkar's mobile phone to discuss the matter, it was not possible to get his comments as he did not answer.
Saidpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nur-e-Alam Siddiqui said, "Public suffering is not acceptable in any way. If people are deprived of services because of the UP Chairman, it will be investigated. I have not received any complaint about this. However, now that I have come to know about the matter, if the truth is found after investigating it, action will be taken." (Picture available)
Shahjahan Ali Manon
Saidpur (Nilphamari) Correspondent
