Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the newly elected Zilla Parishad chairmen to discharge their duties honestly, sincerely and devotedly. I want you to perform your respective responsibilities with honesty, sincerity and devotion....your main aim will be to serve people, she has said. The Prime Minister said this on Wednesday while addressing the Zilla Parishad chairmen after they were sworn in at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). She has also said her government has been working to ensure services for mass people through decentralization. Zilla Parishad would have enough power to ensure services for people and overall development of the respective districts, she said.
Earlier, 59 chairmen of the Zilla Parishad took oath. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina administered the oath. Cabinet members, Prime Minister's advisers and leaders of different political parties and senior officials were present.The election was held on December 28. Only the elected representatives of other local government bodies--upazila parishads, union parishads, municipalities and city corporations-- were the electorate in the zilla parishad elections.
Some 63,143 voters, including 14,800 female ones, exercised their franchise at 915 centers all over the country to elect a chairman and 20 members, including five from reserved women seats, for each Zilla Parishad in one district. A total of 3,938 candidates--146 for the post of chairman, 806 reserved women seats and 2,986 general members--contested the Zilla Parishad election.