"I have no other alternatives. Even I do not want to live any longer as I failed to maintain my family, although I was elected a UP member," said Tahmina Sultana, 30, who has already taken loans of about Tk 1.5 lakh from traditional moneylenders at high interest rates.

Tahmina, a member of Atgharia Union Parishad under Pabna Sadar Upazila, described her sufferings to reporters at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) office in the city yesterday.

She said she needs the money to pay back the loan and maintain her family members, including three sisters and two physically-challenged younger brothers. Her father Abdur Rashid died in 1995 and she is still unmarried.

Tahmina said the moneylenders are now issuing threats to her and also hired local extremists to force her to pay back the loan.

"My life has become unbearable as the extremists set a deadline to pay back the money by the end of this month. They also threatened to pick up my sisters from our house if I fail to meet the deadline," she said.

Tahmina also alleged that the local BNP men and BNP-backed chairman are not cooperating with her, as a UP member, in implementing development projects in her area.

She urged the prime minister and the LGRD minister to provide necessary help to her.