Dev hampered in absence of strong local govt

They called for effective local bodies which could take the government to the people and help establish democracy.

The two-day international workshop on 'Decentralisation for efficient urban management in Bangladesh' was organised with a view to prepare a set of proposals for government consideration to reform municipal authorities.

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LGRD and Co-operatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan formally inaugurated the workshop organised by `Local Government Initiative (LGI) ARD' in collaboration with the Times Research Foundation (TRF) of Kolkata at Sheraton hotel in the city.

He said the workshop would give the government an opportunity to discuss the proposals for its decentralisation and urban management.

The minister said only a strong local government could ensure the active participation of local people in the development activities at the grassroots level.

"Around 30 million people representing about 25 percent of the total population of the country are now living in urban areas. This number is increasing sharply due to migration from rural to urban areas creating huge pressure on urban infrastructure," he said.

It is very difficult to provide pure drinking water, sanitation and other civic amenities to all city dwellers with limited resources, he added.

Mannan hoped that the workshop would discuss the strength as well as weakness of various steps taken by the government in the field of urbanisation.

Former finance and planning minister AMA Muhith termed the Bangladesh government most centralised in the world.

"We have many local bodies including six city corporations, 289 municipalities, and 4400 union parishads, but these are tremendously handicapped by the government," he added.

Muhith said, "If the authorities of Sylhet City Corporation wants to set up a bridge, they will have to come to Dhaka for permission."

He said there is no need of Wasa and Rajuk to develop the capital. Their job could be done by giving necessary authority and autonomy to Dhaka City Corporation.

City Mayor Sadek Hossain said decentralisation is a global agenda for efficient management and administration.

"In fact, good governance cannot be thought of without a well-built and decentralised local government," he added.

Director of Economic Growth of USAID/India Rebecca Black delivered the welcome address at the inaugural session addressed by Khulna City Mayor Sheikh Tayebur Rahman, Raj M Kapoor of TRF-India, and Dr Zarina Rahman Khan of Local Government Initiative.