Administrative services and development projects in Shantiganj Upazila have severely slowed down due to the absence of full-time officers in two vital positions: the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and the Assistant Commissioner of Land (AC Land).
The leadership vacuum has caused extreme suffering for local residents, as daily citizen services and administrative decisions are heavily disrupted.
The crisis began when former UNO Mohammad Shahjahan was transferred on June 10. Furthermore, AC Land Fatema Tuz Zohra has been attending a five-month training program since May 10. Since the transfer, the district administration has assigned the UNO of neighboring Jagannathpur Upazila, Md. Islam Uddin, to cover Shantiganj as an additional responsibility.
Because the acting UNO can only visit Shantiganj one or two days a week, the upazila is practically without permanent leadership most of the time. Residents traveling from remote areas report waiting days for necessary signatures, urgent administrative approvals, land-related services, and corrections to birth registrations. Delays in immediate law-and-order decisions are also a growing concern.
Local public representatives and informed sources note that it is nearly impossible for an officer to effectively manage two upazilas simultaneously.
“The UNO is the main coordinator of an upazila,” one local representative explained. “The lack of a full-time officer has created a vacuum in coordination. Routine files are piling up, and ongoing development projects lack the regular supervision needed to move forward.”
Despite these public complaints, acting UNO Md. Islam Uddin maintains that administrative work is proceeding smoothly.
"My main responsibility is Jagannathpur Upazila, but I am giving the necessary time to both upazilas," Islam Uddin said. "June is a critical month for government activities, and all important tasks were completed with due importance. There has been no disruption, though I am waiting for a regular UNO to be posted here soon."
Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Minhazur Rahman acknowledged the shortage, confirming that UNO posts are currently vacant in three upazilas across the district.
"Once the Ministry of Public Administration assigns the required number of officers to the Sylhet Divisional Commissioner’s Office, we will take immediate initiative to fill these vacant posts in Sunamganj according to administrative rules," the DC stated.
In the meantime, Shantiganj residents are demanding the immediate appointment of permanent officers to both posts to restore the pace of government services and local development.
