Govt aims to hold local polls in all tiers within 1 year: Mirza Fakhrul

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the government is aiming to hold elections at all tiers of local government within a year.

"We said it before, and we are saying it again, we want to, and we will try to ensure that elections at all tiers are held within a year," he said while speaking to journalists after attending a session of the DC Conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital today (5 May).

Responding to a question about discussions with district administrators, he said the key message was that local government forms the foundation of democracy and remains the strongest institution at the grassroots level.

"If we can strengthen this institution consistently, democracy as a whole will become stronger, and so will the state. That is what we tried to convey to them," he added.

The minister also said directives have been given to implement government programmes in coordination with members of parliament, taking their advice and involving other local government representatives.

Fakhrul emphasised that district administrators must work closely with the public.

"The people are the owners of this country, and at the grassroots level, they determine everything. Development work, including roads, safe water supply, and primary education, must be implemented properly for public welfare," he said.

He further noted that key aspects of local government have been significantly affected over the past 16 years, with widespread corruption being a major concern.

"We will investigate these issues with the ministry and take steps to ensure such incidents do not occur in the future. We will also work to implement the programmes set by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman," Fakhrul said.