The ‘Stakeholders Consultation on Local Government Reform’ was held on Thursday at the National Institute of Local Government (NILG).
The event was jointly organized by WaterAid Bangladesh, NILG, with support from partner organizations and networks.
The event brought together key figures from the sector, including Professor Tofail Ahmed, chairman, Local Government Reform Commission (LGRC), as chief guest and Members of the Local Government Reform Commission. Director, NILG, chaired the event.
Professor Tofail Ahmed highlighted the importance of mindset change in Local Government reforming systems, stating: “Reform is a continuous process. The suggestions and recommendations from today’s discussion will lay a strong foundation for future reforms under the next elected government. Involving young generations in this process is crucial, as they are the future leaders and policymakers.” He assured to consider the recommendations in finalization of reform commission report.
Hasin Jahan underscored the necessity of decentralizing local governance and empowering local government institutions (LGIs) to operate autonomously.
She also emphasized that reforms must address the meaningful inclusion of women in decision-making roles to ensure a people-centric governance framework.
Ilira Dewan, member, Local Government Reform Commission, and Human Rights Activist, noted 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.
Ferdous Arfina Osman, Member, Local Government Reform Commission, stressed the need for reducing interference from lawmakers to allow LGIs to function independently.
Mashuda Khatun Shefali, Member, Local Government Reform Commission and Executive Director of Nari Uddug Kendra, advocated for replacing the female quota system with provisions for women’s direct election to leadership roles, enabling them to represent communities effectively.
Irene Hofstetter, nexus program manager at the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, highlighted Swiss-Bangladesh collaboration in empowering local governance, stating: “Achieving national development goals is impossible without strengthening local government institutions.”
The event concluded with a strong call for collective action to reform local governance, ensuring autonomy, inclusivity, and enhanced service delivery.
Partha Hefaz Shaikh, director - program and policy advocacy, WaterAid Bangladesh, emphasizing the importance of the discussions in shaping the policy agenda for the Local Government Reform Commission.
