Discussants on Sunday stressed strengthening local government, especially Union Parishad (UP) increasing UP
representatives’ power and allowing them to work with freedom with the active participation of local people in a bid to achieve Millennium Development Goal (MDG).
Observation came up at a view exchange on “Lessons Learned Session on MDG Unions: Building Participatory Democracy from Bottom Up in Rural Bangladesh” at Jatiya Press Club jointly organized by The Hunger Project-Bangladesh and Brac with the support of UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF).
Chaired by former caretaker government adviser M Hafizuddin Khan, among others country director of The Hunger Project-Bangladesh Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, local government expert Prof Tofail Ahmed, former secretary of the local government division AYBI Siddiqui and Abu Alam Md Shahid Khan and Brac’s social empowerment project manager Mushtaq Ahmed also spoke on the occasion. Some UP Chairmen under this project area also shared their views.
Speaking on the occasion Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar said local government has to carry out development and service work as per constitution but they cant implement their authority autonomously as there is always pressure from government and MP’s over local government.
