Speakers at a discussion yesterday called on the government to amend the Upazila Parishad Act 2009 to establish an effective upazila parishad as well as autonomous local government.
At present, the upazila parishad has become virtually inoperative, they said.
The Upazila Parishad Act should be amended to enable the elected representatives to work independently, they added.
The Governance Advocacy Forum organised the discussion on 'Review of the Local Government Act 2009 in light of democratic decentralisation' at the National Press Club in the city yesterday.
At the discussion, the speakers alleged that the local government bodies are not being allowed to discharge their functions properly.
They also expressed dissatisfaction that the parliament members have been made advisers to upazila parishads.
Local government bodies should be empowered to carry out its activities independently and have sufficient funds to execute them, said Advocate Azmat Ullah Khan, president of Municipal Association of Bangladesh.
He also said that only 2.34 percent of the national development budget is allotted for the local government bodies, whereas in other countries, the local government institutes receive up to 40 percent of the budget.
Speaking as the chief guest, Advcoate Rahmat Ali said that the local government act needs some amendments, but some other issues can be corrected by introducing specific policies.
He also suggested holding discussions with general people before enacting any new law.
UNDP adviser to local government issues Dr Tofael Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor of the daily Sangbad Md Muniruzzaman, Bangladesh Upazlia Parishad Assictaion member secretary Badiuzzaman Badshah, Bangladesh Upazlia Parishad Forum chairperson Mahbubur Rahman Tulu and Danish International Development Agency (Danida) senior adviser Hans Hofmayor also spoke at the discussion moderated by Governance Advocacy Forum coordinator Mohsin Ali.
Source: thedailystar.net
