The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

A delegation of the Union Parishad Oikya Jote Sunday held a meeting with a group of Advisors and demanded holding of local government elections prior to parliamentary polls. During the meeting held at state guesthouse Meghna, the Jote delegation led by its president Mahbubur Rahman Tulu placed proposals to strengthen the local government institutions.

Communications Advisor Ghulam Quader, Law Advisor Hassan Ariff, Education Advisor Dr Hossain Zillur and LGRD Advisor Anwarul Iqbal were present in the meeting that last for 45-minute from 10:25am. Oikya Jote secretary general Matiur Rahman Tapan and co-chairman Abdul Hossain Khan were present.

Asked about his comment on political parties' demand for holding the parliamentary elections first, Tulu told reporters that political parties can not demand it as the local body elections are non-political.

He said the Advisors told them that if the local body election is held first, it would not create any problem for national election. The Advisors also expressed their firm commitment to hold the national elections according to the set timeframe. Advisor Anwarul Iqbal told the reporters that the Oikya Jote leaders raised their various demands and sought local body elections first to stop unwarranted interference by MPs.

The Oikya Jote also demanded reserve seats for women representatives in the local body institutions.

The Advisor said the government would consider their demands. The Oikya Jote demands include 40 percent allocation of the annual development budget for local body institutions, steps to ensure that MPs can not interfere into projects undertaken by the local government after establishment of the national government, 40 percent women representation to local body institution and placement of all manpower working in local government bodies under the local government authorities.