MEHERPUR, Oct 31: Delay in holding polls at the Meherpur municipality frustrated the local people as the election here was postponed twice during the last one and a half years.
On September 27 this year, the EC declared the schedule to hold the election on October 31 the same year. But the High Court issued a stay-order following a writ petition for fixing the periphery of the pourosova on October 7, sources said.
Earlier, the municipality was included in the list of the Election Commission (EC) when they declared the schedule to hold polls at municipalities throughout the country in 2015. However, the municipality here was excluded due to some unknown reasons, the sources added.
The municipality established in the year 1869 and it was upgraded in 2001 as first class pourashava.
The problems in arranging the municipal polls here started since 1999 centring its periphery. It was scheduled to be held in 2004, but the polls were held 12 years later in 2011 due to periphery issue, sources informed.
As the polls were suspended sine die on the last date of the nomination paper submission, mayoral candidates and local voters have become very disappointed.
One Anarul Islam of Amdah union under Sadar upazila lodged the writ petition in collaboration with acting mayor of the pourosova Motasimbillah Motu, said locals.
Following the stay-order on the pouro election, common voters and different associations become very agitated and they demanded of the authorities to arrange the election as soon as possible.
Common voters staged several agitation programmes demanding the polls. They held the acting mayor responsible for the delay in holding the election.
They demanded appointment of an administrator from the government side soon after the present mayor's tenure is over.
Moshiur Rahman Khan, resident of Meherpur pourashava ward no. 8 with melancholy, said, "I want the poura polls to be held timely, because the residents of the municipality are being deprived of the municipal services due to the delay of the poura polls repeatedly over fixing up the poura periphery which could be done earlier."
He requested the concerned authorities to hold poura polls immediately.
Advocate Ibrahim Shaheen said that the development activities here have been halted for not holding the election in due time.
Awami League nominated candidate Mustafizur Rahman Riton said due to ill motive of the sitting mayor, the people of the pourashava are being deprived of their franchise time and again, and desired development of the pourashava is halted.
He demanded immediate poura election in Meherpur.
BNP nominated candidate Jahangir Biswas said, due to diplomacy of the sitting mayor, people of the pourashava are deprived of their franchise repeatedly.
He vehemently requested the authorities concerned to solve the crises in order to hold the polls immediately.
When contacted Mayor Motasimbillah Motu refused to tell anything in this regard.
Alhaj Golam Rasul, a politician of the town, urged the competent authorities to arrange pourosova vote as soon as possible.
Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) Secretary Dr Badiul alam Majumder said, "I think it is the violation of the constitution for not holding the election here in time".
He requested the government and the local government ministry to come forward in order to set aside the litigation of periphery here.
