RAJSHAHI, Jan 9, 2020 (BSS) – Experts at a participatory discussion here
mentioned coordinated development planning can be a vital means of making the
existing local government institutions and the Upazila Parishad and Union
Parishad (UP) in particular effective and accountable.
They also observed effective and meaningful UZPs and UPs is the
precondition to reasonable improvement of living and livelihood condition of
the grassroots population.
So, there is no alternative to make those up to the mark, they added
while addressing the annual coordination meeting of “Policy Formulation for
Upazila Integrated Development under Efficient and Accountable Local
Governance (EALG) Project” held at Circuit House conference hall yesterday.
District administration arranged the meeting in association with the
United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and Swiss Agency for Development
and Cooperation-SDC.
More than 100 persons comprising UZP Chairmen and Vice-chairmen, Upazila
Nirbahi Officers, UP Chairmen, upazila officials from all eight line
departments and members of the civil society joined the meeting.
Deputy Commissioner Hamidul Haque addressed the meeting as chief guest
with deputy director of Local Government Division Parvej Raihan in the chair.
Upazila Chairmen Anil Kumar Sarker and Abdus Salam, Upazila Nirbahi
Officers Sanwar Hossain and Sharif Ahmed and Upazila Vice-chairmen Mahmud
Russel, Md Asaduzzaman and Momtaj Akter and District Facilitator of EALG
Project Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal also spoke on the occasion.
Hamidul Haque said ensuring transparency, accountability and citizens’
participation in different development works is very urgent to establish good
governance in local government institutions.
He stressed the need for strengthening local government institutions for
strong democracy and its institutionalisation at the grassroots level which
is important for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Haque also said strengthening local governance has been a key focus of
the government of Bangladesh and called for greater youth participation in
local governance for attainment of the SDGs. “Youth participation is very
important for local governance in attaining SDGs, and leaving no one behind,
you have to work for it,” he added. Taking took part in open discussions the
other participants put forward a set of recommendations on how to make the
local government bodies effective accountable.