Staff Reporter:
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan yesterday said it is not possible to build an effective and strong democratic system in the country without decentralizing power and authority at the grassroots level.
Local government institutions must be allowed to function effectively and independently, he said, adding that if people have to rush to the capital for minor services or to complete necessary tasks, the very purpose of the local government system is undermined.
Arrangements must be ensured so that people can receive necessary services in their respective localities, he said.
The minister said this while addressing a workshop as the chief guest at a hotel in the capital.
Highlighting the limitations of the local government system, Moyeen Khan said local government institutions in different parts of the country must be empowered further to reduce pressure on Dhaka.
The reasons why people come to the capital must be examined in depth to find solutions, he said.
If people in remote areas need to come to ministries even to obtain basic services such as birth registration, it is a manifestation of structural problems in the country’s governance system, he said.
The minister said if local government institutions are not given the necessary power and authority, people will have to come to the central government for every task.
Genuine decentralization can ensure that people do not have to come to Dhaka for necessary services, he said.
He said the most difficult stage of any initiative in Bangladesh is implementation. He thanked those who worked for successful implementation of various projects including the World Bank and other development partners and concerned local government representatives.
The success of the project will pave the way for undertaking more effective new projects with the World Bank in the future, he said.
He said merely taking up and completing a project is not enough; lessons must be learned from project implementation and applied to future initiatives. Creating ownership of the project among its beneficiaries is also important, he added.
The minister said people in every region of the country must be given the opportunity to live in a clean and beautiful environment and necessary services must be ensured at the local level. Capacity must be enhanced at the local level in all areas, from healthcare to civic services, he said.
Emphasizing women’s political empowerment, he said greater opportunities must be provided to women at the local level. Alongside reserved seats, opportunities should be created in future for women to contest general seats against men and emerge as public representatives. This will strengthen local government, the democratic system and women’s empowerment, he said.
He further said work has been underway for a long time to strengthen local government. The initiative will gain further momentum in the future and efforts to strengthen the foundation of democracy from the grassroots will continue.
Chief Engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) Md. Belal Hossain chaired the programme.
World Bank Country Head for Bangladesh and Bhutan Jean Pesme attended the programme as a special guest.
