Top policymaker and local government representatives agreed that a strong local government system was a must in the country to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) within 2030.
They said the local government bodies should be strengthened in terms of their authorities, management skills and financial capabilities so that they could implement development projects effectively at local levels.
The observations came on Sunday at a briefing organized for the members of the Zila Parishad at Osmani Memorial Hall in the city.
Local Government Secretary Abdul Maleque chaired the function, which was also addressed, among others, by Director General of Local Government Division ASM Mahbubul Alam, Gazipur Zila Parishad Chairman Akhter Uzzaman, Mymensingh Zila Parishad Chairman Yusuf Khan Pathan, Comilla Zila Parishad Chairman Abu Taher, Moulvi Bazar Zila Parishad Chairman Azizur Rahman, Cox’s Bazar Zila Parishad member Mohammad Shafique Miah and Sylhet Zila Parishad member Sazna Sultana Huq Chowdhury.
Abdul Maleque said local government bodies, including Zila Parishad, have a great role to accelerate national economy and development in line with the ongoing government programmes for digital Bangladesh.
He said steps have been taken to identify and recuperate assets of the Zila Parishads, especially the ponds, to make it financially sound and functional.
The manpower for Zila Parishads would be increased by three to four times, he said, adding that the remuneration for its representatives would also be raised in future.
The local government representatives observed that they have to be involved in the process to ensure basic needs of human beings- food, clothes, shelter, education and health- and the local development should be done as per the needs of communities. The conventional top-down development approach could hardly yield sustainable results, they noted.
