'Return local govt power'

This will empower local governments and enhance their financial capability, which will held local development, they said.

The press conference held at Manikganj Press Club was organised by the National Union Parishad Forum (NUPF).

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

They said that in the subcontinent, local governments had been leasing markets for about 150 years. The previous Awami League government snatched their right. Now these are leased by local the administration.

This has crippled local governments and also throttled grassroots level democracy.

Bureaucrats, parliament members and ministers now interfere in activities of local government bodies, which affect self-governance, they said.

Parliament members who represent political parties do not let local governments run independently, they alleged.

NUPF Standing Committee member Samsul Alam Khan, its Manikganj unit president Abdul Kuddus Khan Mojlish Makhan, vice-presidents Abdus Sobhan and Nargis Akter bachchu, secretary Nurul Islam, organising secretary Nasirul Haque Khan and Saifuddin Ahammed Firoj spoke at the press conference.