The High Court on Wednesday voided Section 33 of the Upazila Parishad Act that gave upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) the authority to serve as an upazila's chief executive officer, calling it illegal and contradictory to articles 59 and 60 of the constitution.
The High Court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Ahmed Sohel passed the order after hearing a writ petition.
As a result of the order, UNOs will no longer have absolute authority over upazila parishad chairmen.
However, the UNOs still have to discharge secretarial duties at upazila parishads.
The writ petition was filed in 2021, challenging the aforementioned section of the Upazila Parishad Act.
Senior Advocate Ajmalul Hossain QC and Barrister Hassan MS Azim were present in the hearing on behalf of the writ.
The section of the law in question states: “An upazila nirbahi officer shall be the chief executive officer of an upazila parishad, and he or she shall provide it with secretarial support.
“The chief executive officer of the parishad shall carry out the implementation of decisions of the parishad, maintenance of financial order and other functions prescribed by the rules.”
