Thakurgaon’s Pirganj upazila has been without an upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) for around one and a half months, disrupting administrative activities and causing suffering to service seekers.
Sources said that although former Pirganj UNO Md Ramiz Alam -- transferred to Rangpur as an additional deputy commissioner -- handed over the responsibilities to Ranisankail UNO Md Rakibul Hasan on January 21, he has yet to take charge.
The Ministry of Public Administration has not issued any new orders regarding the matter.
In the absence of the UNO, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Ishfakul has been performing the additional responsibilities, including those of the municipal mayor and upazila parishad chairman.
Moreover, he is also overseeing around 200 educational institutions as their governing body head.
Officials and locals are facing difficulties as essential documents and files remain pending signatures.
One service seeker, Rahmat, said he has been coming to the upazila parishad for four consecutive days just to get a signature, but he could not find the officer.
Mokhlesur Rahman Chowdhury, a UP chairman, said the AC (land) is not found every now and then due to his business and refuses to sign some documents, disrupting union parishad activities.
Meanwhile, AC (Land) Ishfakul said: “The work pressure is immense, and I am trying my best, but a UNO is urgently needed here.”
Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner Ishrat Farzana said the matter has been reported to higher authorities, adding that she hopes that a new UNO will be appointed soon.