UP revenue reform imperative to reduce poverty: Study

LGRD and Cooperatives Adviser Anwarul Iqbal speaks at a national workshop on 'Resource mobilisation of union parishad' at a city hotel yesterday. Local Government Division and UNDP organised the event.Photo: STAR

Reform in the revenue instruments and administration is imperative to help union parishads (UP) play a key role in reducing poverty and achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), revealed a study yesterday.
The study titled 'Local Revenue Resources for Union Parishad' also pointed out that participation of community people in the process of revenue mobilisation would ensure transparency, accountability and improved service delivery by the union parishads.
The study, conducted by Prof Nick Devas of International Development Department of Birmingham University, was revealed at a workshop organised by the UNDP at a city hotel.
The study observed that holding tax should be expanded to cover non- residential properties, and the administration of hat, bazaars and water bodies, the potential sources of earnings, should be in the hand of upazila parishads.
It also recommended increase of tax and license fees in line with inflation.
The study suggested introduction of modern record system to identify the taxpayer and defaulters, computerisation of revenue collection and accounting system and building of public confidence in the local tax system.
“With the changed political and administrative reality to uphold the spirit of decentralisation and effective local governance, we have done comprehensive review of the regulatory framework that affects the role and functioning of the local government system in the country,” said Mohammad Anwarul Iqbal, adviser to the Ministry of LGRD and Cooperatives, as chief guest.
“We are also thinking of making similar review for accumulating local resources by the local government institutions,” he added.
Sheikh Khurshid Alam, secretary to Local Government Division, was present as special guest at the workshop where Nojibur Rahman, joint secretary (administration), and Swapan Kumar Sarkar, director general, of Local Government Division, Renata Dessallien, UN resident coordinator and UNDP resident representative, Dr Stefan Frowein, ambassador and head of delegation of European Commission, were also present.