RANGPUR, Nov 07, 2019 (BSS) – Experts at a workshop today underscored the need for formulating integrated development plans for upazila parishads (UP) to accelerate various development projects to attain sustainable development goals (SDGs).
They observed this at a workshop on ‘Upazila Integrated Development Plan’ arranged under the auspices of Efficient and Accountable Local Governance (EALG) Project held at Circuit House.
The district administration organised the workshop with the assistance of UNDP, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) for strengthening upazila and union parishad systems.
The EALG project is being implemented in 18 upazilas comprising 251 unions in nine districts including two upazilas of Kawnia and Mithapukur in Rangpur for enhancing expertise and capacity of local government institutions.
Upazila Chairmen, Vice-chairmen, Upazila Nirbahi Officers, upazila level officials, union parishad chairmen and secretaries, heads of educational institutions, civil society members, NGO executives and journalists of the two upazilas participated in it.
Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Asib Ahsan attended the workshop as chief guest while Deputy Director (Local Government) Syed Farhad Hossain presided.
Professor of the Department of Public Administration of Dhaka University Dr. Mobasser Monem presented ideas and guidelines of the workshop.
Capacity Building and Gender Officer of the EALG Project of UNDP, Dhaka Sarder Azizul Haque briefed the purpose and context of the topics.
“The main objectives of the workshop is to inform stakeholders about ideas and procedures for formulating annual and five-year integrated development plans for upazila parishads and receiving their feedback,” he said.
The Deputy Commissioner said the present government is sincere and committed to strengthening the local government systems with the assistance of various donor agencies and development partners.
“Considering importance of the issue, UNDP has been working with the government for more than last one decade,” he said urging all concerned to sincerely formulate upazila integrated development plans.
Farhad Hossain said the UNDP-supported technical assistance projects adopted earlier are playing important roles in reforming structures and management systems of the union and upazila parishads.