'Give more authority to local govt'

They also called for adequate budgetary allocation and an effective monitoring system for the local government.

The Local Government Division organised the workshop on 'Strengthening the Institutional and Monitoring Capacity for Effective Local Governance' at a city hotel.

The local government should be given the authority to allocate Khas land, lease out Jalmahal and prepare its budget to make it more effective, said the speakers.

They also stressed the participation of rural people in the development programme.

Speaking as the chief guest, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuyian said that adopting a progressive policy for decentralisation and devolution of authority is a key strategy for accelerating national development.

LGRD and Cooperatives Secretary AHM Abul Qasem, Director General of Local Government Division Md Sharful Alam, Joint Secretary of Local Government Division Md Shafiqul Islam, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme Larry Maramis and Sector Manager of the World Bank Junaid Ahmed also spoke.