The New Nation - Internet Edition

Rajshahi Correspondent

The local government representatives at a grand conference at the local Zilla Parishad auditorium here yesterday demanded intervention-free strong local government.

The conference attended by 2,000 representatives of the local bodies including 600 UP chairmen from eight districts in Rajshahi division placed a 12-point demand to the government. The demands called for ensuring transparency, democratic culture and accountability in running affairs of the local bodies and holding upazila and district council elections prior to holding of the parliamentary elections.

Speakers at the conference pointed out that the constitution of the country has recognised the local government as " government" and vested the local government representatives with powers to run the local bodies, and monitor the implementation of development projects and public works.But they regretted that the local government bodies have been kept inoperational and powerless through the intervention of political leaders and MPs and non-allocation of funds for running these bodies effectively.

They also pleaded for increasing the honorarium and monthly salaries of the union parishad chairmen and the members at a reasonable level, determination of the ' warrant of precedence for the union parishad chairmen and the members, freeing the union parishads from undue bureaucratic control, holding of dialogues with the local body representatives and representatives from all professional groups and political leaders before holding of parliamentary election.

They made a plea for forming an independent local government commission to ensure independence of the local government and allocation of 40 percent of budget for the local governments direct from the government lump grants; cancelling of provision of unjust intervention and removal of the elected union parishad chairmen through the no-confidence motion by the members.

The said it was the cherished desire of the people at the grassroots level to strengthen the local government bodies and the present government has expressed its support and promise to accelerate and strengthen the local government bodies. They hoped that the government would give due attention to their demands.