Bangladesh

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the three-day training workshop on "Upazila Council Management and Digital Bangladesh" aimed at ensuring services at citizen's doorsteps through Upazila Parisad and to making the issues of Digital Bangladesh clear to them.

Addressing the function as chief guest, the Prime Minister said that the government will formulate specific policy guidelines for local government institutions with job descriptions of Members of Parliament (MPs), Upazila Chairmen and Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs).

"Under the policy_ Upazila Chairmen, UNOs and MPs will have their own duties and responsibilities delineated. And all must work in unison in line with their respective tasks and duties," she told at the workshop held at her office.

Access to Information (A2I) Programme at Prime Minister's Office and Local Governance Cluster of UNDP in association with the Local Government Division, Government of Bangladesh organized the workshop.

The Prime Minister said the government believed in decentralization of power and it would take every necessary step for strengthening the local government. "Without decentralization of power, balanced development cannot be achieved from the grassroots to central level," she said.

The upazila chairmen in their speech presented several demands to the Prime Minister. These included specifications of their jurisdiction and partnership in development projects, assigning responsibilities of making and sending annual confidential report (ACR) of the government officials, particularly the UNOs, and ensuring their dignity.

Inauguration over, country's 481 upazila chairmen split into eight groups are attending the three-day workshop, which will also give each participant chairman a laptop with internet accessibility.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mr. Syed Ashraful Islam, MP and UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Renata Lok Dessallien spoke at the function as special guests while Local Government Division Secretary Mr. Manzur Hossain was in the chair.