Include decentralisation, local govt issues
Governance Advocacy Forum yesterday demanded that the political parties include the announcement of decentralisation and strengthening the local government bodies in the election manifestos.
The forum, a platform of 33 organisations working to strengthen local governments, placed an 11-point demand at a press conference at the National Press Club in the city yesterday.
The leaders of the forum also demanded the parties take steps to adopt a policy for administrative, financial, political and economic decentralisation.
Coordinator of the forum Mohsin Ali said though the political parties had promised in the manifestos in the past to strengthen the local government bodies but they did not do so.
The policy for decentralisation and strong local government bodies are needed for sustainable development and poverty reduction in the country, he added.
Justice Gholam Rabbani said the rules of the people's representatives in the decentralised administrative spheres are needed to solve the problems in the parliamentary democracy in the country.
The demands include ensuring women's participation in the local government commission and one-third representation of women in all local bodies, giving the responsibilities of conducting service works of the state like education, health, agriculture and rural development to the local bodies.
The forum leaders also demanded holding of the district council elections and transparency and accountability in every sphere of the administration.
Executive Director of SAP Bangladesh Syed Nurul Alam, Programme Manager of Manusher Jonno Foundation Ziaul Kabir, Chief Director of Angikar Bangladesh Md Helaluddin, Convener of Bangladesh Union Parishad Forum Mahabubur Rahman Tulu, Executive Director of Voice Ahmed Swapan Mahmud and Nasimul Hasan of Incidin Bangladesh also took part in the press conference.
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