Activities of these UPs is virtually paralysed as they are absent from offices and are also not attending meetings of upazila co-ordination committees, sources in the administration said.

They are absconding after arrest of four UP chairmen in the district since promulgation of emergency last month.

Houses of many of them were raided by law enforcers to arrest them for their alleged involvement in land grabbing, extortion and other crimes including sheltering miscreants, sources in law enforcing agencies said.

Farmers in areas under the Ups, mainly in bordering areas, are facing a lot problems to get fertiliser and diesel from dealers and petrol pumps for lack of chairmen's 'slip' required to take delivery of the items, which is also hampering Irri-Boro cultivation.

The four UP chairmen held so far are Asadul Haque of Kulia and Rezaul Karim of Noapara in Debhata upazila, Ashraf Hossain of Keragachhi in Kalaroa and Ruhul Quddus of Anulia in Assassuni upazila. They were arrested on charge of corruption and patronising extortionists, criminals and musclemen. They are in jail and are now facing several cases each, law enforcers said.

The law enforcers said the UP chairman they are hunting for include Abdur Rouf of Alipur, Modasserul Haque Huda of Dhulihar, Abdul Alim of Labsa and Samsul Alam of Bhomra in Satkhira Sadar upazila; Abdul Hannan of Budhhata, Rafiqul Islam of Kulla, Shakil of Sreeula and Ruhul Quddus of Khajra Union Parishad in Assassuni; Golam Mostafa of Kumira, Pranab Ghosh Bablu of Khalilnagar, Rafiqul Islam of Jalalpur and Lokman Hossain of Islamkati in Tala; Mosharraf Hossain of Krishnagar UP in Kaligonj upazila; Liakat Ali of Bhurulia and Shafiul Azam Lenin of Gabura in Shyamnagar; and Rabiul Islam of Jalalabad, Aziz Hasan of Chandanpur and Anowarul Islam of Deara UP in Kalaroa upazila.

Sources in the administration seeking anonymity said at least 25 UP chairmen were listed by joint forces for alleged corruption and patronising criminals.

Besides, most of the UP chairmen in the district are fleeing homes at night to avoid arrest and their offices are virtually closed, the sources said.

Sources said joint forces raided houses of Abdur Rouf of Alipur, Golam Mostofa of Kumira, Pranab Ghosh Bablu of Khalilnagar, Rabiul Islam of Jalalabad and some others.

The administration has already vacated the post of Khalilnagar UP and appointed Mostafizur Rahman Titu as its acting chairman.

Most of the UP chairmen are also not available on their previous cellphone numbers.

However, talking to this correspondent over cellphone Shhakil, Shafiul Azam Lenin, Abdul Alim, Rabiul Islam and Modaserul Haque Huda said they are in Dhaka for personal engagement and would return Satkhira soon.

Some civil society members, talking to this correspondent, have raised voices for declaring their posts vacant as public functions are being affected in their absence.

If the UP leaders are honest men why they should be hiding, they posed the question.