Local govt system not really effective because it is not working according to plan: Dr Tofail Ahmed
Emdadur Rahman Chowdhury Zia, Sylhet
Participants in an open discussion meeting in Sylhet demanded that the services must be made people-friendly and party symbols should not be used in local government elections
Besides, the women's quota system be made effective, that the organizational structure be redefined if necessary, that a conducive environment be created, that educated people should be removed from participating in local government representative elections, and that transparency in the income and expenditure of the institutions must be ensured.
In response to the demands of the locals, in his speech as the chief guest, Chairman of the Local Government Reform Commission, Professor Dr. Tofail Ahmed said this on Thursday.
The local government system in Bangladesh is very old. Interrelationships have not been established between some isolated institutions. As a result, they are not able to play an effective role. This inconsistent system has not been developed. Stating that the country's government is a parliamentary system but the local government system is a presidential system, the Chairman of the Local Government Reform Commission said, Union, Upazila and District Councils, Municipality and City Corporation are working differently. In the existing structure, the institutions are being run under the authority of one person.
A view exchange meeting on local government reform was held at a hotel in Sylhet jointly organized by the Local Government Reform Commission, Local Government Department and District Administration and with the support of UNDP.
Divisional Commissioner Khan Md. Reza-un-Nabi delivered the welcome speech at the view exchange meeting.
In this, members of the Local Government Reform Commission Professor Dr. Ferdous Arfina Osman, Advocate Abdur Rahman, Dr. Mahfuz Kabir, Mashhuda Khatun Shefali, Dr. Mohammad Tariqul Islam, writer and human rights activist Ilira Dewan, Professor Dr. Kazi Maruful Islam, Director of Local Government Department Faruk Ahmed, Additional DIG CSB Mohammad Ehsan Shah, PPM, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sher Mahbub Murad and others were present.
Public representatives, university teachers, government officials, civil society and NGO representatives, student representatives of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and media personnel participated in the exchange of views.
