Service-seekers suffer as UP secretary attends office at will

People gather at sadar union parishad office in Sarail upazila of Brahmanbaria everyday to get services. But they have to wait hour after hour as the secretary of the parishad doesn’t come to office in due time.  

During a visit, this correspondent found a good number of service-seekers were waiting at the union parishad office as secretary Mohammad Rubel Mia was absent till 12:30pm. Chairman Abdul Jabbar was seen idly sitting in his room at the time.  

Mahfuza, who came to the union parishad office to obtain a birth certificate, told this correspondent that she couldn’t get the document even visiting the office seven days.  

Another service-seeker Parul Begum came to union parishad office to correct her birth certificate. But she was waiting for secretary Rubel Mia.  

Chairman Abdul Jabbar said, “Service-seeking people often suffer as the secretary attends office at his will. As a representative I have to digest bitter words from aggrieved people.”  

“The secretary is usually late in office. He lives in district headquarters. Many people have to wait everyday to get services,” he continued. 

I have talked to the authorities concerned on the matter, he added.  

Union Parishad secretary Rubel Mia said, “I cannot attend office on time due to traffic congestion as I live in Brahmanbaria town.”  

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ariful Haq Mridul said, “A government official cannot attend office at his or her will in violation of rules. The union parishad secretary has already been served a show-cause notice over various irregularities.”  

Necessary measures will immediately be taken to end sufferings of service-seeking people, the UNO assured.