Dhaka: Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan emphasized the necessity of an effective local government system to ensure that government services reach the doorstep of every citizen. He highlighted the importance of such a system during a meeting with Reto Renggli, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh, at his office in the Secretariat.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Dr. Moyeen stressed that strengthening local government is essential for institutionalizing democracy and ensuring active participation and accountability. He pointed out that the democratic foundation must be solidified at the grassroots level to consolidate the state's overall democratic structure. The minister also discussed the need to transform Bangladesh's large population into skilled human resources and to boost the financial capacity of local government institutions.
Dr. Moyeen mentioned that genuine decentralization is necessary to effectively empower local governments. He suggested that increasing public participation and expanding decision-making opportunities at the local level could make local government institutions more effective.
The meeting also covered topics such as strengthening Bangladesh-Switzerland bilateral relations, the local government election process, increasing rural women's participation in economic activities, and addressing climate change impacts. Ambassador Renggli expressed interest in expanding cooperation and emphasized the mutual exchange of experiences in enhancing local government capacity, increasing accountability, and empowering women.
State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, who was present during the meeting, briefed reporters about the discussions on further strengthening the local government system and consolidating democracy institutionally.