Stakeholder consultation on local government reform held

The 'Stakeholders Consultation on Local Government Reform' was held today at the National Institute of Local Government (NILG). WaterAid Bangladesh and NILG jointly organised the event, with support from partner organisations and networks. The consultation 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.

The event brought together key figures from the sector, including Professor Tofail Ahmed, Chairman of the Local Government Reform Commission (LGRC), as Chief Guest and Members of the Local Government Reform Commission. The Director of NILG chaired the event.

During the consultation, 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 us to consider the recommendations in finalising the reform commission report.

In her remarks, Ms Hasin Jahan underscored the necessity of decentralising local governance and empowering local government institutions (LGIs) to operate autonomously. She also emphasised that reforms must address the meaningful inclusion of women in decision-making roles to ensure a people-centric governance framework.

The consultation featured diverse perspectives from stakeholders. Ms Ilira Dewan, a Member of the Local Government Reform Commission and Human Rights Activist, noted the challenges local government institutions face in the Chittagong Hill Tracts due to the absence of elections, calling for reforms to uphold the democratic integrity of LGIs. Dr Ferdous Arfina Osman, a Local Government Reform Commission member, stressed the need to reduce lawmakers' interference to allow LGIs to function independently.

Ms Mashuda Khatun Shefali, Member of the 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.

Representatives from the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, SIDA, JICA and NILG joined the event as special guests. Ms. 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. Mr Partha Hefaz Shaikh, Director of programme and Policy Advocacy at WaterAid Bangladesh, expressed gratitude to all participants and emphasised the importance of the discussions in shaping the policy agenda for the Local Government Reform Commission.