Multidimensional efforts are underway to strengthen the local government system, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam said on Friday.
"To achieve Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's vision of 2041, a strong local government is a must," he said.
The minister was speaking at a public parliamentary debate competition titled "Building a Smart Bangladesh through Strengthening Local Government" organized by Debate for Democracy at Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) in Tejgaon as the chief guest.
Tajul emphasized strengthening of local government as well as accountability of local public representatives and evaluation of their work.
He said that people's representatives should not be blamed generously, as many representatives are doing various good work.
Commenting on the need for educated young people to come into politics, he said, otherwise incompetent people will lead the society.
Pointing out that there are various types of corruption in our social system, he said, usually we understand financial corruption as corruption, but not fulfilling the responsibility assigned to oneself properly is also a big corruption.
Smart representatives and smart people will be needed to create a smart Bangladesh.
It is possible to create a corruption-free Smart Bangladesh only if the public representatives and the people fulfil their responsibilities properly, he added.
Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) as the government party and debaters from East West University as the opposition party participated in this shadow parliament to strengthen the local government.