Local govt officials must play pro-people role

People-oriented role of local government officials, as directed by the Upazila Parishad Act 2009, must be ensured to make the local government body more functional, democratic and accountable, policymakers said at a workshop yesterday.
National policymakers, 25 secretaries to different ministries, and six divisional commissioners participated in the workshop organised by Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) and Local Government Division (LGD) at a city hotel.
The policy-makers also recommended appointment of a full-time secretary with the rank and status of a class II officer and an assistant accounts officer at upazila parishads to streamline the accounting and auditing.