Dhaka:LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan emphasized the necessity of decentralizing power and authority at the grassroots level to build an effective and strong democratic system in the country. He stressed that local government institutions must function effectively and independently to prevent the need for people to travel to the capital for minor services or tasks, which undermines the local government system.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister made these remarks while addressing a workshop as the chief guest at a hotel in the capital. He highlighted the limitations of the current local government system and advocated for empowering local government institutions across different parts of the country to alleviate the pressure on Dhaka.
Dr. Khan pointed out that the reasons for people flocking to the capital must be thoroughly examined to find appropriate solutions. He noted that if individuals in remote areas need to visit ministries for basic services like birth registration, it reveals structural problems within the country's governance system. Genuine decentralization, he argued, would ensure that necessary services are accessible locally without necessitating a trip to Dhaka.
The minister also praised those involved in the successful implementation of various projects in collaboration with the World Bank and other development partners. He emphasized that merely completing a project is insufficient; it is crucial to learn from project implementations and create ownership among beneficiaries. This approach, he believed, could lead to more effective future projects.
Dr. Khan underscored the importance of providing people in every region with the opportunity to live in a clean environment with access to necessary services. He called for enhancing capacity at the local level across various areas, including healthcare and civic services. Additionally, he highlighted the need for increased political empowerment of women, suggesting that opportunities should be created for women to contest general seats alongside reserved ones to strengthen local government and democracy.
Efforts to strengthen local government have been ongoing, and the minister expressed confidence that these initiatives will gain further momentum, thereby reinforcing the foundation of democracy from the grassroots level. The program was chaired by Md. Belal Hossain, Chief Engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), and attended by World Bank Country Head for Bangladesh and Bhutan Jean Pesme as a special guest.