Union Parishads must get autonomy, resources

Union Parishads (UP) should be given greater autonomy and equipped with resources so that they do not remain dependent on the government fund for development of their areas, speakers told a discussion yesterday.

They stressed the need for providing training to elected representatives about the laws and regulations related to running the parishad for better delivery of services.

The recommendations were made at a lessons sharing session on the "MDG Unions: Building Participatory Democracy from Bottom Up in Rural Bangladesh" project, organised by The Hunger Project (THP) at the capital's Jatiya Press Club yesterday.

Jointly carried out by THP and Brac, the two-year project funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund, was launched in May 2013 and implemented in 10 unions of Mymensingh and Tangail.

Statistics from a survey conducted in the areas in 2015 to measure the impacts of the project, which aimed to enhance the knowledge, entitlements and responsibilities of locals in ensuring a transparent and accountable local government, were also shared. 

The survey conducted in 900 households of 10 unions shows the project encouraged more people to visit and participate in UP and ward meetings  including open budget meetings.The THP survey also shows 45 percent of households pay UP tax now compared to 26 percent two years ago.

Observing the positive impacts of the project, former caretaker government adviser M Hafizuddin Khan said the project should be replicated in other unions by the government.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, global vice president and country director of The Hunger Project, described UP governments as unarmed soldiers. "Their function is often limited through political influence of the ruling party," he said. 

Local government expert Prof Tofail Ahmed pointed out that the local government representatives were overburdened with meetings and conducting arbitrations in their area.  

AYBI Siddiky, former inspector general of police, said, "Political will and respect to law are needed to make local government effective."

Abu Alam Shahid Khan, former secretary, Local Government Division (LDG), said the mindset of government employees, who serve people, needed change as well.