Upazila nirbahi officer


In Bangladesh the Upazila Nirbahi Officer often abbreviated UNO, is the chief executive of an Upazila and a mid-level officer of the Bangladesh Civil Service, known as Bangladesh Administrative Service. A Senior Assistant Secretary is usually assigned to this post.
UNO works as Chief Executive Officer of Upazila Parishad for executing all decisions taken by the upazila parishad and ensuring financial disciplines of the funds of upazila parishad and representative of Government of Bangladesh in the Upazila level for performing retained activities to the Government of Bangladesh, non-transferred and controlling activities.

History

The role of the UNO was created in accordance with a decision by the military regime of Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad. In 1982, the Ershad government constituted a committee for administrative reorganization and reform. One of the committee's major recommendations was to create a representative body called Upazila Porishod under a directly elected chair. The government created the position of Thana Nirbahi Officer or TNO later renaming it Upazila Nirbhahi Officer —in each of the existing thanas outside the metropolitan areas.
About the same time subdivisions were upgraded and converted into districts, responsibility for all development activities at the local level was transferred to the Upazila Porishads. It was also decided that the UNO should continue to chair the Upazila Porishads until an elected chair took office.
UNOs were normally posted from among the officers ranked as "Senior Assistant Secretary" of the BCS Administration cadre.

Charter of duties

;As a CEO of upazila parishad:
According to Upazila Parishad Manual and Upazila Parishad Act-1998 Upazila Nirbahi Officer is to perform following duties as a part of CEO and transferred dept. to Parishad.
;As a representative of government:
UNO performs some retained and regulatory functions which have not been assigned to Upazila Parishad.
The designation 'upazila nirbahi officer' changed to 'thana nirbahi officer' upon the abolition of the upazila system in the early 1990s. This changed designation again, reverting to 'upazila nirbahi officer' in the late 1990s.

Appointment and regulations

Upazila Nirbahi Officers are appointed by Ministry of Public Administration through B.C.S Cabinet Division directly controls and supervises the activities of UNO.They are the top executive person in an Upazila.