Strengthening local govt a must for good governance

RCC Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu speaks at a roundtable on 'Good governance for development at the local level and the implications of national budget allocations on pourasavas' at the Cirdap auditorium in the city yesterday. On his left are Tongi Pourasava Chairman Advocate Azmat Ullah Khan, economist Debapriya Bhattacharya and economist Atiur Rahman and on his right is Badiul Alam Majumder, executive director of Hunger Project. PHOTO: STAR

They also called for more budgetary allocation for the local government and planned development projects in the locality.

The Municipal Association of Bangladesh (MAB) organised the roundtable on 'Good governance for development at the local level and the implications of national budget allocations on pourasavas'.

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Presenting the keynote paper, MAB President and Tongi Pourasava Chairman Advocate Azmat Ullah Khan said the development of local bodies were being hampered because of poor budgetary allocation, non-availability of funds and curtailment of power.

Although over one crore people live in urban areas, the allocation in the budget was too inadequate, he said.

The pourasavas hardly can take up any development programmes without the approval by the government, he added.

Renowned economist Debapriya Bhattacharya said the local government should ensure transparency and accountability in development activities.

He also called for capacity building of the local government for the development of infrastructure and more budgetary allocation.

Debapriya suggested introduction of a mechanism through which budgetary allocation would be given on the basis of performance. The local government bodies who will perform better will get more allocation, he explained.

Speaking as special guest, Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu called on the pourasava chairmen to take up project-based development programmes in their areas.

The local government should take initiatives to implement projects in various sectors with the money allocated by the government under the annual development programmes (ADP), he said.

Minu suggested that the responsibilities for land management, holding tax collection and revenue collection from local markets should be given to the local government.

He also said the first class municipalities such as Narayanganj, Savar, Tongi and Comilla should get the status of city corporation.

Economist Atiur Rahman underscored the need for promoting a participatory democracy in the country.

He also suggested forming a permanent finance commission to assess the requirements of the local government.

The desired goal for development of human resources is not possible without a strong base of the local government, he said.

Referring to the poor performance of the local bodies, Atiur said some of them often get higher allocation from the government just on the basis of recommendations by influential political high-ups.

He also said policy-makers should consider the changed livelihood pattern in the country while taking up development programmes.

Prof Nazrul Islam called on the local government bodies to take up planned development projects that do not harm the environment.

Badiul Alam Majumder said the constitution gave full autonomy to the local government bodies but they could not enjoy it.

Rather, their power has gradually been curtailed, he said.

Selina Hayat Ivy, chairman of Narayanganj municipality, alleged that the local body leaders aligned with opposition political parties often fell victim to political harassment.

Such political interference also hampers the development process, she said.

Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Daily Star, moderated the roundtable held at the Cirdap auditorium in the city.