'Withdraw notices, orders violating municipal ordn'

The recommendations were placed at a daylong conference of Mab at Rajshahi Nagar Bhaban yesterday.

Nearly one hundred municipal chairmen and ward commissioners from 16 districts of Rajshahi division took part in the conference.

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The recommendations include withdrawal and cancellation of all notices, orders and circulars given in violation of Section 146 (2) of the municipal ordinance of 1977.

Mab leaders said the 'anti-ordinance' notices were creating obstacles to development work.

They also recommended an increase in budgetary allocation for municipalities, handing over of fallow government lands and other properties to municipal authorities, renaming of municipal chairmen as mayors to familiarise them with current world, formation of municipal commission and involvement of Mab in national policy making.

Mab President and Tongi Municipal Chairman Advocate Ajmat Ullah Khan said Tk 130 crore was allocated in national budget for municipalities this year which is only 0.59 percent of the total allocation for development sector.

In New Zealand, municipalities get 50 percent and in the Philippines they get 45 percent of the total development allocation, he said.

Mab Secretary General and Shingra Municipal Chairman Shamim Al Razi spoke about various problems in discharging their responsibilities.

Addressing the conference as chief guest, Rajshahi City Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu MP expressed his solidarity with the recommendations and assured his cooperation to place them in parliament.

Mundumala Municipal Chairman and Rajshahi District BNP General Secretary Shish Mohammad presided over the conference.

Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Musleh Uddin, Deputy Inspector General of Police Noor Mohammad, Bogra Municipal Chairman Mahbubur Rahman, Bera Chairman Abdul Baten, Kushtia Chairman Anwar Ali, Laksam Chairman Mojir Ahmed and Hakimpur Chairman Sakhawat Hossain also spoke.