Dr. Yunus’ ‘undemocratic’ ordinance stalls local government system

BD Digest Report

The decision by the interim government’s chief advisor, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, to expel elected representatives en masse without any regard for rules and regulations has started having a negative impact on the grassroots. Political analysts and the general public are calling the removal of elected representatives of the local government system through a special ordinance without following the proper legal process an ‘undemocratic’ and ‘dictatorial’ behavior.

Despite positive instructions from the Supreme Court and the relevant ministries, the current administration is not allowing many elected representatives to conduct their official activities. This is not only harming the representatives, but also halting local development and emergency services for the common people. This unilateral decision by the interim government has led to extreme dissatisfaction among the public.

The real picture of this critical situation has emerged in a recent Facebook post by Al-Muktadir Shaheen, the elected chairman of Bokainagar Union Parishad No. 6 in Gouripur Upazila of Mymensingh. In it, he strongly criticized the lack of rule of law and good governance under the current government.

Chairman Shaheen wrote in his post, “Dear Bokainagar residents, Assalamu Alaikum, Despite being the gazetted chairman elected by your votes, the current government or administration is not allowing me to carry out my activities due to the lack of rule of law or good governance, the lack of a government that is beneficial to the general public, and despite the instructions of the Supreme Court and the ministry.”

He also mentioned that although he was elected independently, regardless of party affiliation, and successfully served for two and a half years, a ‘selfish, evil-minded group’ has been unfairly removing him from office for the past 20 months.

This public representative, deprived of the opportunity to perform his duties, very humbly apologized to the people of Bokainagar for any unwanted mistakes, writing, “Life is fleeting, there is no trust in breathing. Therefore, if anyone, including the people of Bokainagar, has been a victim of any kind of injustice, oppression, persecution or any other kind of harm during the performance of my duties, then I request you to inform me in the comments, message, phone or directly.”

According to the grassroots people, the government led by Dr. Yunus is weakening the democratic structure by removing elected representatives in the name of reforms. While elected representatives are accountable to the people, the local government is being run by unelected administrators, which has led to widespread public suffering.

Netizens and ordinary people are demanding that this ‘undemocratic’ ordinance be immediately withdrawn and an environment be created for elected representatives to return to work, otherwise there is a risk of the country’s local government system collapsing completely.