The Jatiya Nagorik Committee has put forward a 15-point proposal, including the cancellation of electing union parishad chairman by direct votes, to the Local Government Reform Commission.
The committee sent the proposals on Tuesday through a joint statement signed by its Convenor Nasiruddin Patwary and Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain.
The proposals include recognizing the local government as a constitutional organization and it will be transformed effectively, abolishing the single-centered governing system of the local government organizations, and following the below organizing structures to ensure effective public service.
- There will be three stages of local government—Union Parishad, Upazila Parishad, and Zilla Parishad
- The Zilla Parishad will be the centre of the local government and it will be run like a government.
- All parishads will consist of directed elected representatives.
- President and vice president of each parishad will be elected by the parishad members.
- To ensure accountability, there will be a union and upazila-level monitoring council consisting of locally-accepted people and the local representatives will conduct activities in coordination with the monitoring council on a monthly basis.
The proposals also include making the local government the center of development activities, and transforming local government organizations into self-governing bodies that truly represent the people.
This is in response to the colonial-era local government system, which prioritized the government over the people.
To achieve this, amendments to Articles 59 and 60 of the Constitution have been proposed, enabling local governments to play a significant role in state decision-making.
The proposals mandate empowering people with a constitutional system that allows them to withdraw or recall their local representatives, ensuring greater accountability.
Additionally, the demarcation of local government areas will be based on the needs of the people, and a structured classification of services will be introduced at the union, upazila, and zilla parishad levels.
Local governments will have the autonomy to plan and draft their budgets, with all financial reports made publicly available online.
Furthermore, all civic services will be digitalized in line with the principles of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, allowing people to access services from anywhere.
Initiatives will also be taken to transform rural residents into skilled workers, facilitating their ability to migrate for better opportunities.
Local governments will be self-governed and accountable to the people, with the Ministry of Local Government acting as a facilitator rather than a controlling authority.
Local governments will not be under the control of any government official or elected representative.
To prevent government interference, all local elections will be held on the same day, and political identities and symbols will be excluded from the process.
Additionally, lawmakers will not have any role in local government affairs, as their primary responsibilities lie in enacting laws and ensuring accuracy and accountability in Parliament.
Union Parishad chairpersons will not be elected through direct votes. Instead, Union Parishad members will serve as chairpersons on a rotational basis to prevent the concentration of power and the emergence of autocratic leadership.
Legal provisions will be introduced to ensure the presence of civic representatives in local government meetings, and freedom of expression in these meetings will be safeguarded.
Efforts will be made to reduce the financial dependence of the poor on local representatives, who, in turn, will be provided with adequate allowances.
Finally, permanent standing committees, similar to those in Parliament, will be established for local governments to ensure effective governance and oversight.
