Speakers at an event on Thursday stressed the need for strengthening local government institutions to achieve national development goals.
They made the observation at the 鈥楽takeholders Consultation on Local Government Reform鈥� organised by WaterAid Bangladesh and the National Institute of Local Government at NILG office in the capital, said a WaterAid Bangladesh press release.聽聽
The speakers also called for collective action to reform local governance, ensuring autonomy, inclusivity, and enhanced service delivery.聽聽
Country director of WaterAid in Bangladesh Hasin Jahan underscored the necessity of decentralising local governance and empowering local government institutions to operate autonomously.
She also emphasised that reforms must address the meaningful inclusion of women in decision-making roles to ensure a people-centric governance framework.
Addressing the event as the chief guest, Local Government Reform Commission chairman professor Tofail Ahmed said, 鈥楻eform is a continuous process. The suggestions and recommendations from today鈥檚 discussion will lay a strong foundation for future reforms under the next elected government.鈥�
Nexus programme manager at the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh Irene Hofstetter said that achieving national development goals was impossible without strengthening local government institutions.
Local Government Reform Commission member Ilira Dewan referred to the challenges faced by local government institutions in the Chittagong Hill Tracts due to the absence of elections, calling for reforms to uphold the democratic integrity of LGIs.聽
More than 60 organisations, including policymakers, academics, development partners, and civil society representatives, shared insights and proposed actionable solutions for strengthening local governance in Bangladesh.
