Massive Administrative Shake-Up: 166 Upazilas Get New UNOs Ahead of National Election

Ahead of the upcoming thirteenth national parliamentary election, a major reshuffle has been made at the grassroots level of the administration. In a single day, the government has appointed new Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) in 166 upazilas across the country. A notification in this regard was issued on Wednesday by the Ministry of Public Administration.

The notification states that officials holding the rank of Senior Assistant Secretary have been given responsibility as UNOs in these upazilas. They will perform duties in their respective workplaces as Executive Magistrates. For this, they have been granted the power under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.

A referendum and the national election are scheduled to be held together at the beginning of next February. For this reason, reshuffles are taking place continuously in the field administration. Earlier, changes were made in the posts of Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP). This time, the UNOs at the upazila level have been replaced.

The notification further states that the newly appointed officers must join their respective workplaces by November 30. If they fail to join within the stipulated time, they will be considered as immediately released or stand-released from their current workplaces from the afternoon of that day.

Those officers whose offices or workplaces have already been changed must submit their joining letters mentioning the name and address of their new workplace. It is expected that this will ensure transparency and discipline in administrative activities.

This reshuffle in the field administration is being viewed as an important step ahead of the election. UNOs are the chief representatives of the government's executive authority at the upazila level. They manage local administration, maintain law and order, implement development activities, and carry out election-related responsibilities. Therefore, changes in their positions are considered part of the administrative preparations surrounding the election.

All in all, the government's initiative ahead of the upcoming national election will strengthen the field administration. Once the new UNOs take charge, changes will come in administrative activities at the upazila level, and it will help maintain discipline in the electoral environment.