Add provision to constitution for strong local govt
Says Prof Muzaffer
Noted academician Prof Muzaffer Ahmad yesterday urged the government to include necessary provision in the constitution for strengthening the local government.
Power concentration will hinder the progress of democracy, so it should be decentralised through strengthening the local government institutions for good governance, he said.
He was presiding over a roundtable on local government organised by Bangladesh Upazila Vice-chairman Samannoy Parishad at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) yesterday.
Muzaffer, also president of Sushashoner Jannoy Nagorik (Shujan), stressed the need for specific explanation on budgetary allocation for the development of local government.
He said it is easier to solve most of the civic problems that turn difficult for the central government, as the local government representatives stay close to mass people.
Shujan secretary Badiul Alam Majumder said the government has curbed power of local government representatives by making the lawmakers adviser to the upazila parishad.
He also emphasised the need for launching movement at grassroots level to press the demands for strengthening the local government.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) president ASM Abdur Rob strongly criticised the government. "They are establishing partisan ruling system, rather than democracy."
He also talked on Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus. "The government has belittled the country by besmirching Dr Yunus's image because he is the model the nation."
At the function, some upazila vice chairmen demanded repealing of the rules that have narrowed the jurisdictions of local government and made the institutions inactive.
Local government expert Dr Tofail Ahmed and representatives of different organisations, among others, attended the programme.
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