Nagorik Committee proposes 16 local govt reform plans

The Jatiya Nagorik Committee has submitted 16 proposals to the Local Government Reform Commission, urging major structural and electoral changes to improve the functioning of local governance in Bangladesh.

It has also urged that the current constitution, which refers to local government as local administration, must constitutionally recognise it as local government and effectively transform it into a functional local governance system.

The proposals submitted to Local Government Reform Commission Chairman Tofail Ahmed yesterday include establishing a structured three-tier governance model comprising union parishads, upazila parishads and zila parishads, with zila parishads functioning as the central governing body.

Sarwar Tushar, joint convener of the committee, shared the details at a press briefing at the National Local Government Institute in Dhaka today (4 February).

Speaking to The Business Standard, Sarwar Tushar said, "Alongside our written proposals, we have strongly opposed the conversion of the administration into four provincial structures, as this would be detrimental. We have also urged that local government elections be held before the parliament elections."

The committee's executive member and international relations secretary Alauddin Mohammad, central organiser and crisis response cell secretary Ali Naser Khan and co-spokesperson Tahsin Riaz, were present on the occasion. 

Reform proposals

Under the proposed system, all parishads would be composed of directly elected representatives, chairmen and vice-chairmen would be elected by parishad members and monitoring councils would be formed at the union and upazila levels to ensure accountability, with local representatives coordinating on a monthly basis.

The committee criticised the colonial-era local administration system, stating that it prioritises government interests over public welfare. It advocates a self-governing, development-focused local government.

Additionally, the committee proposes amending Articles 59 and 60 of the constitution to enhance local government role in decision-making. Elected representatives should be accountable to voters.

Further recommendations include decentralising public services to eliminate unnecessary travel between administrative levels; granting local governments autonomy in planning and budgeting, ensuring sustainable environmental and economic policies, with budget reports published online; digitising local government services in alignment with the fourth industrial revolution for broader public access; enhancing technical skills development and job placement support for rural-based overseas workers.

The Nagorik Committee also proposes reforming the local government ministry to support rather than control local institutions; ensuring local representatives are not subordinate to government officials; holding nationwide local government elections simultaneously, without party symbols or affiliations; restricting MPs from intervening in local government activities.

The other recommendations are rotating the role of union parishad chairmen among parishad members to prevent power concentration; granting citizens a legal right to attend and voice opinions at local government meetings; implementing measures to support underprivileged citizens and ensuring fair allowances for local representatives.

Lastly, the committee recommends the formation of standing committees, similar to parliamentary committees, to oversee governance and long-term development.