The seven-member expert committee on "Accelerating and Strengthening Local Government Institutions" reportedly made a presentation before the CA to this effect. We understand issues like building a time-befitting organistional structure, source of income, ways to increase revenue earning, autonomy of local government institutions, relation with local members of parliament, empowerment of women in local government institutions, setting criteria for candidates for election, structural reforms to ensure accountability of the elected representatives, determining needs of 'Gram Sarker' to ensure effective participation of people, and account and management system of the institutions will be given top priority while making the recommendations. And it is heartening to learn that the CA has shown his interest in doing something immediately once the recommendations are placed before him.

Notwithstanding the urgency of the matter, the issue of strengthening the local government for effective administration at grassroots level has been kept in the cold storage by all the previous governments. This was done deliberately so that the local MPs could manipulate all developmental works, control funds, appointments, transfers, relief distribution etc., through their supporters in collaboration with a section of corrupt government officials. Consequently, in the absence of accountability and transparency, the people's representatives not only misused government funds and relief materials, they also created and sustained rings of corruption in the area to perpetuate their sway.

Against such a bleak background, we believe the intended reforms of the local government institutions will go a long way to ensure development and good governance in the country. Powerful and autonomous local governments will have the freedom to prepare their own developmental agenda, set priorities, make financial proposals and follow-up with the government on its own terms. Once the institutions are sufficiently strengthened, governance at the local level will become transparent with the spontaneous participation of the people. We hope the CA will move quickly to take up an action plan once the recommendations reach his table.