DHAKA: Bangladesh Union Parishad Forum (BUPF) Sunday demanded separate allocation for the local government and grading up the honorarium of the UP chairman and members in the upcoming budget.

The demand came from a press conference organized by the forum at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the city.

BUPF president Mahbubur Rahman Tulu said, “The local body can work independently if the government offers direct financial allocation.”

He added: “We also urge the government to allocate special budget for special zones like monga-affected areas, Chittagong Hill Tracts, disaster-prone and haor regions.”  

Ataharul Islam Bulbul, general secretary, Samiul Hoque Abul, finance secretary of the forum, and Wazed Firoj, program director of Democracy Watch, also spoke at the press conference.

BDST: 1310 HRS, June 6, 2010
RT/AK/MUA