Dhaka: State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam announced in Parliament that a directive has been issued for Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) to establish ‘visiting rooms’ for Members of Parliament (MPs) in every upazila parishad. This initiative addresses the lack of office or sitting space for lawmakers at the upazila level.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the official order mandates that UNOs prepare a room on the second floor of each upazila parishad building. These rooms will include an attached bathroom and necessary furniture. The state minister emphasized that the rooms will be termed ‘visiting rooms’ since there is no provision to allocate rooms under the MPs’ names.
The establishment of these rooms, in both new and old upazila parishad buildings, will enable MPs to sit, conduct official activities, and meet local people. Mir Shahe Alam highlighted that lawmakers often struggle to find a suitable place to sit during their visits to upazila parishads.
The decision to create these visiting rooms came after an MP raised the issue, prompting Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to instruct necessary measures. The state minister stated that the decision was finalized in consultation with Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, which led to the issuance of the government order.
MPs have been advised to coordinate with the respective UNOs to ensure the prompt preparation of these rooms.