Local govt institutions’ capacity has increased: LGRD minister

Capacities of the local government institutions (LGIs) of Bangladesh, their accountability and transparency have increased to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, after the successful implementation of the five-year "Efficient and Accountable Local Governance (EALG)" project, said LGRD Minister Md Tazul Islam on July 28.

The minister was addressing an event titled "Stakeholders' Conference on Local Governance: Progress, Learning and Way Forward", organised by the Local Government Division (LGD), MoLGRD&C, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center, Dhaka, said a press release.

Speaking as the chief guest, Tazul said, "Local government institutions need to be accountable to the people by providing better services to the community and the local representatives should earn dignity by their work for the people."

Sudipto Mukerjee, resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh, who was a special guest, said EALG project has been working with the local government for the last five years to localise SDGs and build the capacity of union and upazila parishads and provide policy support to the government for establishing effective local government systems, leaving no one behind.

He thanked Switzerland and Denmark for their support to implement the project and stressed the importance of continuing the support to the local government.

Nathalie Chuard, ambassador, Embassy of Switzerland, spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, Md Mozammel Haque, programme analyst, UNDP Bangladesh, presented the keynote paper.

Among others, Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, secretary, Local Government Division; and Shariful Hoque, project coordinator of the EALG project, were present.