Parliament members usually "dictate" local government institutions keeping UP leaders "handicapped", they alleged at a press conference at a local hotel.

Added to this problem, there is bureaucratic tangles and delayed government decisions on projects, they said.

It was addressed by, among others, Satkhira unit General Secretary of National Union Parishad Forum (NUPF) Jaglul Haidar. He is Chairman of Shyamnagar UP.

Often, much needed projects can not be taken up due to interference by Upazial Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) and non-participation of UP chairmen at District Development Coordination Committee (DDCC) meetings, they said.

Rural development projects are placed at Upazila Development Coordination Committee (UDCC) for primary selection. Selected projects are then sent to parliament member who is advisor to the UDCC.

They scrutinise the projects on the basis of "their own choice" and then send those to DDCC where the minister-in- charge for the district or the MP as its chairmen approve the those finally.

"As a result many important projects are excluded, knowingly or unknowingly", Jaglul Haidar said.

There are evidences that many priority projects could not be implemented timely as the minister concerned remained out of the country or could not attend the DDCC meeting for lack of time, he said.

UP Chairman Abdur Rouf, also President of Satkhira NUPF, said the responsibility of leasing rural markets and waterbodies has also been transferred to UNOs.

"This has curbed the powers of people's representatives and created fund crisis for Ups", he said.

Local bodies should be empowered to lease markets and waterbodies to institutionalise democracy and ensure good governance, he said. .

UPs are supposed to get one percent of the total land registration fees but that is never given, he said.

"It is really unfortunate that people's representatives have to request their employees for fund".

Habibur Rahman, Chairman of Fingri UP, said the honorarium of a UP chairman and a member is only Tk 500 and Tk 300 respectively, which is very "disgraceful". He demanded enhance of the honorarium to Tk 5000 and Tk 3000.

The UP leaders also urged for a separate budget for local government institutions to strengthen their activities.

UP leaders have virtually nothing to do except issuing nationality certificates and birth certificates. Strengthening local governments is vital for local development and good governance.

A large number of UP leaders including women attended the press conference.