The local government reform commission would recommend non-party elections for the local government bodies, allowing the voters to directly elect the representatives of union parishads, upazila parishads and municipality corporations.
Reform commission chief Professor Tofail Ahmed made these remarks at an exchange-of-views event with journalists on Monday.
The Local Government Reform Commission, Local Government Division and National Institute of Local Government jointly organised the event at the NILG auditorium in Dhaka city.
鈥楶eople outside Dhaka mostly want local government elections before the national elections,鈥� Professor Tofail said.
The reform commission launched a dedicated website www.lgrc.gov.bd, a Facebook page facebook.com/lgrc24, an email address [email protected] to receive public opinions by January 20, he also said.
The recommendations from the Local Government Reform Commission would include a universal law for all tires of local governance; holding of local government elections on the same day; the Election Commission鈥檚 full control over the local government elections; and an increased budget allocation and salaries for the local government representatives, said the commission chief.
Citing local government electoral expenses between 2021 and 2024, Professor Tofail observed, 鈥楲ocal government elections in phases during that time cost Tk 23,000 crore. This could be reduced to Tk 600 crore if the elections were held on the same day.鈥�
He also said that the reform commission considered the Zila Parishad important, 鈥榃e would recommend direct election for the Zila Parishad and its empowerment to approve district-wise budgets, distribute funds and monitor expenditures.鈥櫬犅�
Replying to journalists鈥� queries, he said that affidavit submission by the contenders, setting educational qualification for the chairman and mayor candidates, and rotational reserve seats for women would also be recommended.
