The “Stakeholder Consultation on Local Government Reform” was held on Thursday at the National Institute of Local Government (NILG).
The event was jointly organised by WaterAid Bangladesh and NILG, with support from partner organisations and networks, according to a press release.
It provided a platform for over 60 organisations, including policymakers, academics, development partners, and civil society representatives, to share insights and propose actionable solutions for strengthening local governance in Bangladesh.
Professor Tofail Ahmed, chairman of the Local Government Reform Commission (LGRC) was the chief guest at the event. The Director of NILG chaired the event.
Members of the Local Government Reform Commission were apresent at the time, among others.
During the consultation, Prof Tofail said, “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 that the recommendations would be considered in the finalisation of the reform commission’s report.
Member of the Local Government Reform Commission and human rights activist Ilira Dewan highlighted 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.
Another member, Dr Ferdous Arfina Osman bstressed the need to reduce interference from lawmakers to allow LGIs to function independently.
Commission member and Nari Uddug Kendra Executive Director Mashuda Khatun Shefali advocated for replacing the female quota system with provisions for women’s direct election to leadership roles, enabling them to represent communities more effectively.
Representatives from the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, SIDA, JICA, and NILG joined the event as special guests. Irene Hofstetter,
Nexus Programme 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.
WaterAid Bangladesh Programme and Policy Advocacy Director Partha Hefaz Shaikh expressed gratitude to all participants, emphasising the importance of the discussions in shaping the policy agenda for the Local Government Reform Commission.