Speakers for bolstering local govt system to make civil admin effective

Speakers at a dialogue today (24 December) called for strengthening local government system to make the country's civil administration effective. 

They made the call at an event titled "Dialogue for Democratic Reconstruction on Civil Administration" organised by the Center for Governance Studies (CGS) at CIRDAP auditorium in the capital.

Speaking as the guest of honour, former adviser to the caretaker government and noted economist Hossain Zillur Rahman said local government should be strengthened to create an effective civil administration in the country.

He suggested not allowing affiliated professional organisations of political parties in civil administration as these organisations put political pressure in taking bureaucratic decisions.

The culture of flattery should be stopped in the administration, he said, adding that this culture creates politicisation among bureaucrats.

Colonial system still exists in the country's administration, he said, adding people will get more services from the civil administration if it comes out of the traditional East-India type colonial system.

To bring positive change in the administration, the accountability of the bureaucrats should be increased, he added.

About the July-August mass uprising, he said with the active participation of the interim government, the political parties and the people, state reforms should be carried out to materialise the new possibility that emerged from the uprising.

Meanwhile, the speakers said Public Service Commission (PSC) should be made free from politics.

Politicisation took place in many state institutions in last 15 years, they said.

The administration is highly centralised at the secretariat, they said and suggested decentralisation of the administration.

They urged all to build positive mindset to make changes in the bureaucratic system.

They also suggested introducing public feedback system in administration so that people can provide their valuable opinions about different ministries.

People's aspirations can be fulfilled by taking their opinions in administration, they observed.

Chair of CGS Munira Khan, CGS Executive Director Zillur Rahman, Secretary of SHUJAN and Head of the Electoral System Reform Commission Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Executive President of Gono Forum Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, former mayor of Chattogram City Corporation and former lawmaker Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury, former vice president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Abdullah Hil Rakib, former president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Mir Nasir Hossain, Organiser of Noitik SAMAJ Bangladesh Major Gen (Retd) Amsa Amin, former Director General of the Bangladesh Rifles (BGB) Major Gen ALM Fazlur Rahman, economist and former general secretary of Bangladesh Orthoniti Shomiti Jamal Uddin Ahmed, Member Secretary of AB Party Mojibur Rahman Manju, Professor of the University of Dhaka Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, former secretary Sultana Afroz, Chairman of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) Bobby Hajjaj, former secretary AKM Abdul Awal Majumdar, former secretary Ibrahim Khan, former chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) Muhammad Abdul Mazid, Student of the Department of Public Administration of the University of Dhaka Eiffah Assarirah, and Co-Ordinator of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Tahmid Ahmed spoke on the occasion.