The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Representatives of the City Corporations, Paurashavas (municipalities) and Union Parishads yesterday demanded of the Government to hold elections to the local government bodies before the parliamentary polls.

Demanding the holding of the elections to Zila and Upazila and pending city corporation, municipal and union parishad immediately, they urged the Government to ensure the stopping of interference of ministers, MPs and bureaucrats in running the local government affairs through enacting necessary laws.

The local government bodies (LGBs) would neither be strengthened and empowered nor free from politicisation and outside interference if the polls to these bodies were held after the general elections under any political government, they observed.

They said this, while taking part at the national dialogue with the Caretaker Government at the Chief Adviser's Office (CAO) in the capital. Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed led the Government side, while over 300 representatives of city corporations, paurashavas and union councils from across the country took part in the talks.

It was the 12th day of the dialogue yesterday when of the over 300, 17 representatives of LGBs highlighted difference aspects of their demands and recommended ways to strengthen the local government bodies with people's participation.

Later at a joint press briefing, the leaders of local government bodies told journalists that they had made 12-point demand in the dialogue which included bringing balance of power between president and prime minister.

They demanded formation of a national government after the next general elections in the greater interest of the nation and decentralization of power.

The local government leaders emphasized strengthening local government bodies making them the focal point of administration for achieving overall development of the country.

They also stressed the need for holding a free, fair and credible general election free from the influence of black money, muscle and misuse of authority in which honest and capable persons can participate.

They lauded the Caretaker Government for its steps in formulating the Local Government Commission Ordinance-2008 for empowering the local government bodies and urged the government to form the Commission soon to this end.

Giving a salient feature of the dialogue, they told the briefing that they had given recommendations to the government to take legal measures, including reduction of the absent period for losing membership of an MP to 30 days from the existing 90 consecutive days, to make parliament more effective.

The leaders also urged the government to keep a legal provision for the direct meeting between the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition in every two months to discuss national issues for the greater interest of the nation.

Speaking at the briefing, Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said the local level leaders raised some important issues to strengthen and empower the local government bodies as well as decentralisation of power.

He said during the meeting the government reiterated its commitment to bring all stake holders to a meaningful election for creating a stable political atmosphere.

The Chief Adviser assured the local leaders that the government would make a clear cut demarcation between the commanding administrative functions of the MPs and the local elected representatives by enacting laws, if necessary, in a bid to bring qualitative changes to the administrative system, Dr Zillur said.

In this connection, he referred some steps taken by the government for strengthening the local government bodies and bringing qualitative changes in politics.

LGRD Adviser Mohammad Anwarul Iqbal and Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader were present at the joint press briefing.

Secretary General of Bangladesh Municipal Association Shamim Al Razi, member of Bangladesh City Corporation Association Md Anwar Hossain, Bir Pratik, and Co-Chairman of Bangladesh Union Parishad Oikya Jote Md Abul Hossain Khan, among others, spoke on the occasion.