DCs living without family members to face action: LGRD Minister

The government has started making a list of District Commissioners (DC) whose family members do not live with them, said LGRD Minister Md Tazul Islam on Thursday. 

He said, “DCs are less interested in making changes within their jurisdiction if their family members live in another city.”

He made the statement at a round-table discussion on the launching of a report by the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD). 

The report titled ‘State of social accountability and deliberative democracy in Bangladesh: Current Dynamics and Future Pathways’ is a flagship publication of BIGD.

The report says that the key reason for the dysfunctionality of these institutions is the local government member’s strong tendency to avoid accountability.

They do this because often their financial and other activities are not transparent, and they maintain mutually-beneficial links with the elite, relatives and supporters by misusing public resources, the report says.

Dr Mirza M Hassan, senior research fellow & head of BIGD’s Governance & Politics Cluster presented the report while Md Tazul Islam, minister of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD), was present as chief guest at the program. 

Tazul Islam said that “If we want to establish a developed country, there is no alternative but to strengthen local government institutes.”

Rasheda K Choudhury, a former adviser of a caretaker Government of Bangladesh, and Shaheen Anam, Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation were present as special guests.

Among others Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Country Director of the Hunger Project Bangladesh also participated at the discussion.