Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO)

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO)  chief executive of an upazila (sub-district), a newly created post in accordance with a decision made by the military regime of General Hussain Muhammad Ershad. In 1982, the Ershad government constituted a committee for administrative reorganisation and reform. One of the major recommendations of the committee was to have a representative body called upazila parishad (council) under a directly elected chairman. The government did accept this recommendation and accordingly a post, designated first as thana nirbahi officer (thana executive officer) but later renamed as upazila nirbhahi officer (UNO), was created in each of the existing thanas (later upgraded and renamed as upazila) outside the metropolitan areas. About the same time all the existing subdivisions were upgraded and converted into districts. Responsibilities for all development activities at local level were transferred to the upazila parishads. It was also decided that the UNO should continue to act as chairman of upazila parishad till such time an elected chairman takes office. 

The UNOs were normally posted from among the senior scale officers of the administration cadre of the Bangladesh Civil Service. The charter of duties of UNO stipulated him to perform such functions as to: (i) act as staff officer to the elected chairman of upazila parishad and thus in that capacity assist the chairman in implementing all policies and decisions of the parishad; (ii) assist the parishad/chairman in supervising all upazila level administrative/ development work and in preparing as well a coordinated upazila development plan; (iii) exercise powers under section 144 of criminal procedure code and sit in court to perform functions such as taking cognizance of cases, hearing bail matters, granting adjournment, etc, in times when the upazila magistrate is unable to attend the court; (iv) initiate annual confidential reports (ACR) of all thana level officers except the munsiff-magistrate; (v) attend emergency duties such as relief work following natural calamities and receive food and other materials for distribution under the direction of upazila parishad/chairman; (vi) supervise and control revenue and budget administration; (vii) ensure the observance of all government directives on upazila administration; (viii) co-ordinate all upazila level training activities; (ix) grant casual leave and countersign as well the travelling allowance bills of the heads of all functional departments except that of the munsiff; (x) act as drawing and disbursing officer in respect of officers and staff working directly under him; (xi) supervise activities of the officers and staff working under him; (xii) protocol duties; and finally (xiii) perform such other functions as what would be entrusted to him by the government or the upazila parishad/chairman.

Functions of Cabinet Division

1.   Secretarial work for the Cabinet and its Committees. 2.   Custody of papers and documents of the Cabinet and Committees and their decisions. 3.   Review of progress and implementation of Cabinet and Committee decisions. 4    Remuneration and Privileges of the President, Prime Minister and other Ministers. 5.   Immunity of the President. 6.   Administration of Oath of the President and Resignation of the President. 7.   Rules of Business and Allocation of Business among the Ministries and Divisions. 8.   Toshakhana 9.    Flag Rules, National Anthem Rules and National Emblem Rules. 9A.  Observance of National Mourning Day on the 15th August. 10.  Appointment and resignation of the Prime Minister, Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers and administration of  their Oath. 11.  Common services relating to the Prime Minister, Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers excluding T.A. and D.A. 11A. All matters relating to Anti-corruption Commission. 12.   Declaration of War. 13.   Secretaries Committee and Sub-Committees. 14.  General administration in Upazilas, Districts and Divisions. 15.  Warrant of Precedence. 16.  Monitoring of Criminal Justice. 17.  Nomination for International Awards. 18.  National Implementation Committee for Administrative Reforms/Reorganisation(NICAR). 19.  Administration including financial matters of this Division 20.  Administration and supervision of subordinate offices and organisations under this Division. 21.  Liaison with International Organisations and matters relating to treaties and agreements with other  countries and world bodies relating to subjects allotted to this Division. 22.  All laws on subjects allotted to this Division. 23.  Inquires and statistics on any of the subjects allotted to this Division. 24.  Fees in respect of any of the subjects allotted to this Division except Fees taken in courts . 25.  National Awards and Award giving ceremonies. 26.  Inter-Ministerial Co-ordination.

Superior Selection Board

Superior Selection Board (SSB) an administrative body constituted by the government in the Ministry of Establishment to scrutinize the government servants' service records, and then recommend them for promotion to higher positions in the civil service, including autonomous bodies. It was first constituted in 1972 with the cabinet secretary as its chairman, and the secretaries of Home, Law, Establishment and Finance Ministries/Divisions as members. The concerned secretary of a ministry/division (if not a member of the Board), making proposals for promotion of the officers under his control, was to be invited to participate in decision processes of the Superior Selection Board.

Since its first constitution, the composition of the SSB underwent modifications from time to time ending in August 1991. The reconstituted SSB of 1991 saw the inclusion of four new members namely the Principal Finance Secretary, the comptroller and auditor general, and two other additional secretaries with professional background classified as professional/technocrat members. In November 1991, the Principal Secretary to prime minister was also made a member of the SSB. The secretary of the Ministry of Establishment acts as its member-secretary.

The major responsibility of the SSB is to consider and make recommendations on the promotion and appointment of different categories of officers: (i) to the posts of deputy secretary and above in the secretariat; (ii) to pay grades III, II and I of the officers belonging to various service cadres and those outside the cadres; (iii) to pay grades III, II and I of those government officers who are on deputation to various autonomous bodies; (iv) to the posts of executive heads of various government departments and directorates; (v) to the posts of management heads of a selective number of autonomous bodies, including the directors of management boards of these bodies who are employed on a full-time basis; and (vi) to award of time scale of the officers mentioned above.

Until the early 1990s, the recommendations of the SSB were to be considered further by the Council Committee on Promotion and Appointment, composed entirely of a selective number of senior ministers. However, following a verdict of the high court in the late 1990s, the Council Committee was dissolved. At present the practice is to send the recommendations of the SSB directly to the Prime Minister, whose decision is final.

Union Parishad Functions

1. Preparation of a comprehensive Union Plan and inclusion of inter-ward development projects after identification and prioritization.
2. Assist and cooperate for the development of primary schools, supervise their functioning and motivate people for spreading literacy.
3. Ensure provision of health services at the Union Health Centres, supervise family planning related activities and services and monitor the same. Arrange for supply of safe drinking water and promote sanitation programme.
4. Construction of inter-ward roads, maintenance of the same, management of small scale irrigation and water resources.
5. Implementation of afforestation programme along the Union Parishad roads and all earthen embankments.
6. Peaceful resolution and amicable settlement of inter ward disputes.
7. Promote social resistance over violence against women, terrorism, all types of crimes and cooperate with administration for maintenance of law and order.
8. Up-to-date registration of birth, death and marriages based on report received from Gram Parishad.
9. Assist Upazilla parishad in the preparation of inter ward agricultural and fisheries development projects and take necessary action.
10. Cooperate with and advise all agencies within the Union having credit programmes and help rural poor to participate in the same.
11. Increase awareness for women and child development and take concrete actions where necessary.
12. Encourage people to undertake cottageindustries withgood potentials nd facilitate the involvement of disadvantaged and poor people in various income generating activities.

Structure of Union Parishad

Union parishad is the oldest and lowest local govt system. It has been functioning for more than hundred years for the rural development of the country . At preset we have 4498 Union parishad,Union parishads  are run by thedirectly elected representatives. Its roles and representaives are guided by different levels , rules and circulars is from time to time .

Structure:

1. Chairman: There shall be a chairman of Union Parishad directly elected by the voters of the Union.
2. Members: Nine members shall be directly elected from the nine wards constituting the Union.
3. Women members: Three seats shall be reserved for women. Each of the women members shall be directly elected by the male and female voters of three wards within a Union. 
4. Official members: The Block Supervisor ( Directorate of Agriculture ), Health Assistant , Family Planning Assistant, Family Welfare Worker, Ansar/VDP and all other field staff of government departments working at Union level will be the official members of Union Parishad. They will have no voting right .
5. Others members: Representatives of Muktijoddah, Cooperative Societies Disadvantages groups/Professions such as weavers, fishermen. landless workers, destitute women, etc) will be members of Union Parishad without voting right.