'DCC polls after solving legal hurdles’

Elections to two Dhaka city corporations will be held after the complexities over boundary demarcation are resolved, a junior minister has said in Parliament.

Replying to a question by Independent MP Mohammad Selim, State Minister for Rural Development and Co-operatives Moshiur Rahman Ranga said on Monday: “Still there are problems (over demarcation).”

He said: “There are legal complexities over the DCC elections. We cannot go beyond the law. We cannot defy High Court and Supreme Court orders. We can hold the elections only after the problems are resolved.”

Ranga was answering questions on behalf of Local Government and Rural Development Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, who was not present in the House.

Dhaka-7 MP Selim said city dwellers were not getting the necessary civic services, though the Dhaka City Corporation was bifurcated to provide better services.

“Administrators are given responsibility (to head the two corporations) for a six-month tenure. Anyone appointed as administrator resorts to corruption. Whenever the issue of election comes up, boundary delimitation problems are cites as hurdles,” he said.

The MP said the people were eager to know when the polls would be held.

To another question, the junior minister said the Election Commission had been requested to take the necessary steps to hold polls to the Upazila council vice-chairman posts reserved for women.

Arsenic in 1.45 million tube-wells

Answering a question by Bogra-5 MP Habibur Rahman, he said arsenic beyond permissible limit had been found in 1.45 million tube-wells among 5 million that had been tested in 271 Upazilas across the country.

Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah presided over the session.