The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Educationists, local government experts and representatives of the civil society at a roundtable in the city lamented the weakness of the local government and stressed the necessity for empowering it for serving the people.

They said the local government bodies are weak because of their limited power. These organisations are dominated and controlled by the bureaucrats from the central government. As a result, all the departments of the local government are facing various problems in their day-to-day discharge of duties.

"If these organisations are fully empowered and local government commission is formed then, it would benefit people enormously," they added.

They said this at the roundtable on 'Local Government Commission: Proposals on its responsibilities and functions' jointly organised by 27 development organisations at CIRDAP auditorium yesterday.

Dr Akbar Ali Khan, former adviser to the Caretaker government, said, "Reforms in various sections of the society are occurring at present. This is the high time to form local government commission. The commission will take all decisions regarding local government. Later on, it will be expanded on the basis of division of labour, wealth and power."

"If the local government commission is formed, there will be no problem for the local government bodies in discharging all sorts of functions," he added. Dr Atiur Rahman, Chairman of Unnayan Shamannaya, said previous governments failed to flourish local government. As a result, huge number of people living in villages could not see the light of development.

Dr Salauddin M Anisuzzaman, Professor of Public Administration Department of Dhaka University, in his keynote paper said that the local government commission should be an independent and constitutionally recognised institution, which should fix up its own functions, financial allocation, audit and management. Hans Hoffmeyer, Senior Adviser of Danida, said the local government bodies should be strengthened and added that as democracy cannot be forced upon, so local government must be left to develop on its own ability and capability. Mohsin Ali, Coordinator of Governance Coalition, said, "Decentralisation of power is necessary for establishing good governance in the country. The only way of decentralising power is to make local government organisations stronger."

Dr Akhter Hossain and Dr Zarina Rahman Khan, professors of Public Administration Department of Dhaka University, took part in the discussion. Dr Zarina said, "Local government bodies must coordinate with each other. Otherwise, they cannot be self-sufficient."

Dr Tofael Ahmed, local government expert, Taleya Rahman of Democracywatch, Abdul Quiyum, Joint Editor of Daily Prothom Alo, also spoke.