Iqbal Siddiquee, Sylhet
At long last, the ministry of LGRD has approved the organogram of Sylhet City Corporation (SCC), four years after submission of the same.
However, the approved organogram allows a 650-strong manpower for 31 departments and sections of the SCC while the SCC had proposed for 850 staff to manage matters related to over 6 lakh city dwellers.
A letter from the LGRD ministry confirming approval of the organogram reached the SCC one week ago.
“We got an organogram within a few weeks after this government’s assumption to power whereas things remained hanging for years due to political reasons. Now I would continue pressing for raising the number of manpower,” said city Mayor Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran.
Although the then BNP government announced formation of the country’s 6th administration division Sylhet in 1994, things proceeded very slowly.
Following a gazette notification declaring Sylhet City Corporation on July 16 of 2002, and the then chairman of Sylhet pourasava, Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran took over as the first mayor of SCC on July 28.
Kamran, an Awami League leader, also became the first elected mayor of SCC in March 20 polls in 2003 defeating the then district BNP chief MA Haque. Kamran was re-elected in the August 4 polls last year.
The former pourasava staff were too insufficient to cope with the increased workload for extended areas in the city corporation but the ministry concerned took no initiative to raise the number of SCC staff.
The city corporation in phases temporarily appointed 431 staff members for smooth running of their works.
In December 2007, the LGRD ministry asked the SCC authorities to stop payment of salary and other benefits of some 431 staff, terming their appointment ‘illegal and unapproved’.
The SCC fell into crisis as the employees went on strike immediately. Later, following filing of a writ petition by the employees, the High Court issued injunction on the government order for stopping payment of salary and other benefits. But things remained in balance as the LGRD ministry did not approve the SCC organogram proposal that was sent on February 10 in 2005.
Under the organogram, the SCC will now get a magistrate, planner and a PRO along with others in the SCC.
Courtesy of www.thedailystar.net
