Local government elections early next year: Mirza Fakhrul

Local government elections, including those of the Union Parishad, will be held in the country early next year, said Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

He made this information as the chief guest at a discussion meeting organized by the Bangladesh Union Parishad Chairman-Member Association at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Kakrail in the capital.

Mirza Fakhrul said that the Union Parishad elections will be held in a completely neutral manner early next year. There will be no opportunity to get additional benefits from any party identity, but rather, public representatives will have to be elected with the love of the people.

Referring to local government as the main foundation of democracy, he said that neither the state nor democracy can be strong unless the local governance system is strong. He expressed the importance of building a framework in Bangladesh to operate a large part of the local justice system, healthcare and public services under the local government, just like in the developed world.

Empowerment of UP representatives and social security programs

Noting that the expectations of the people will not be fulfilled if only government officials are made to work without the people's representatives, he said that if UP representatives are introduced and included in the implementation of development activities and social security programs like 'Family Card', transparency will be ensured and the real beneficiaries will benefit.

In addition, the minister admitted that the allowance of the field-level people's representatives is insufficient. Highlighting his experience as a municipal chairman, he said that discussions will be held with the Prime Minister regarding providing a respectable allowance to the UP chairman and members. He also called on everyone to build the country unitedly while maintaining religious harmony.