Bangladesh removes all chairmen of Upazila councils

The Upazila executive officers will perform their duties for the time being

The chairmen of all of Bangladesh’s 495 Upazila councils have been removed from duty. Upazila executive officers, or UNOs, will take on their responsibilities for the time being.

A notice has also been issued to remove the mayors of 323 municipalities elected during the tenure of the Awami League government. The government can appoint administrators in their place.

The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives issued separate orders in these regards on Monday.

One order said that, under Section 13(d) of the Upazila Parishad (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024, the chairman of the respective Upazila Parishads listed below have been removed from their post.

The other said that the mayors of the following municipalities were removed from their posts under Section 32(a) of the Local Government (Municipalities) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024.

Most local government representatives have gone into hiding due to fear of attacks after Sheikh Hasina resigned from her premiership in the face of a mass student-led movement on Aug 5.

Nearly all the top positions at the district, Upazila Parishad, city corporation, and municipality levels were occupied by Awami League leaders and activists.

The government has taken alternative measures – such as giving responsibilities to UNOs - as local government institutions have been disrupted.

Now the government is creating the opportunity to appoint administrators to the posts by removing the mayors and chairmen and amending the law through an ordinance.