The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Local government election should be held before the national election, speakers opined at a roundtable discussion yesterday.

Referring to Local and National government as the base and the superstructure of a country, participants at the discussion emphasised on strengthening local government.

Bangladesh Union Parishad Oikya Jote and the Daily Bhorer Kagoj jointly organised the roundtable titled 'The Rationality of Local Government Election' at the National Press Club.

Presided over by Mahabubur Rahman Tulu Chairman of Bangladesh Union Parishad Oikya Jote, the table was filled up by former Professor of Chittagong University Dr Tofael Ahmed, advisor of BNP chairperson's Abul Hasnat Mofazzal Karim, AL leader Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan, presidium member of JAPA GM Kader, President of JSD Hasanul Haque Inu, former Abul Hasan Chowdhury, former Fakhrul Islam Munshi, Bir Protik Anwar Hossen and others. Shyamal Dutta, Editor of the Daily Bhorer Kagoz, moderated the discussion.

Prof Tofael Ahmed read the main article of the programme. He recommended that Election Commission should be given power to hold local election. As a result election will be held without party interference. Tofael Ahmed urged for reformation of Local Government Act.

Shyamal Dutta pointed out two benefits of holding local election before national election- 1. Caretaker Government will lift state of emergency. 2. Local government election will prove the neutrality and skill of Caretaker Government.

Mofazzal Karim said, "Government should make people believe that holding local elections would not hamper the national election".

As the government has only four months to hold election and there are a lot of pending works regarding the national election AL leader Faruk Khan expressed doubts about the possibility of holding of local election before national election. He assured that AL would ensure holding of local elections within one year if it return to power.

Hasanul Haque Inu emphasised on reformation of local government. He recommended giving constitutional power to Union Parishad Chairmen.

Golam Mortuza of Union Parishad Oikya Jote expressed firm suspicion about holding local election by the elected government and urged Caretaker Government to hold it before the national election.