Cabinet Clears Pourosova (Amendment) Act to Hold Election in Every 5 Yrs

The Cabinet today gave final approval to the Local Government (Pourosova) (Amendment) Act, 2021 in a bid to stringently follow the system of holding elections every five years.

The approval came at a weekly Cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The premier joined the meeting virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban, while her cabinet colleagues were at the meeting room of the cabinet division at the Secretariat.

Sometimes it was seen that at end of the tenure, some municipality chairmen used to go to court and get restrictions on holding the next election, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters after the meeting.

In this way some chairmen remain in their chair for more than five years even 15-16 years taking the advantage of a clause in the existing law that stated the present chairmen will remain in the chair till holding the next election, he said.

He continued “To stop this practice the government made this amendment in the 2009 law.”

The Cabinet Secretary revealed the proposed law saying that after the five-year completion the government will be able to appoint an administrator either from the government services or any other eligible person who has administrative experience.

“The appointed administrator will be allowed to stay in the post for maximum of six months and elections have to be held within this time,” he said.

The meeting also decided to make the eligibility for the enlistment of any new municipality which has a minimum of 2000 people in per kilometer from the existing 1500 people per kilometer.

 It also decided to change the name of Pourosova Secretary to Pouro Executive Officer.

From the meeting, Khandker Anwarul Islam said, it was decided that the proposed law will include another clause that mentioned that if any municipality fails to pay salaries and other wages of its

officers and employees for 12 months, the government can abolish its status as a municipality. (BSS)