Move to strengthen local govt

The LGI has also formed 20 district union parishad forums under the NUPF across the country.

"The objective of the forum is to create a national network of the elected local government representatives," LGI chief Dr. William J Cartier said this while he was addressing a press conference in the city prior to the inauguration of two-day conference of NUPF.

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"The election of NUPF was held democratically and we hope to expand our initiative at all the districts of Bangladesh by next year," Dr. William added.

Gene V. George, director of the USAID Bangladesh mission inaugurated the two-day conference.

The NUPF President Golam Sarwar told the press conference that the activities of the Union Parished was being hampered severely due to political interference.

" The UP chairmen cannot exercise their power properly as they are controlled by the politicians," Sarwar said.

He also blamed bureaucratic tangle as one of the main obstacles to the proper functioning of the UP chairmen.

UP chairmen who were present at the conference spoke against the gram sarkar in an unified voice. A large number of UP chairmen from across the country attended the conference.

Dr. Zarina Rahman Khan, deputy chief of the ARD and other officials were also present.