Corruption exists extensively throughout Bangladesh. Undertaking development projects without succumbing to corruption is difficult, but it will happen if the work continues. However, corruption at the macro level is highly detrimental.
"I, too, cannot accomplish many works for corruption. A corrupt individual cannot be happy," Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Minister Md Tazul Islam said.
The minister made the remarks while attending as the chief guest at a shadow parliament organised by Debate for Democracy at Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) in the capital's Tajgaon on Friday.
“It is essential to initiate measures to diminish the prevalent corruption, and everyone must pledge to combat it.
“Besides, the allegations of irregularities against the local government representatives in the selection of the beneficiaries of the social safety net including old age allowance, widow allowance, etc have reduced a lot,” he said.
LGRD minister added, “There is also controversy over the election in the United States and Great Britain. But the level is high in our country. Although the upcoming upazila election without party symbols is expected to be held peacefully, there are also fears of clashes.”
"I will refrain from openly or secretly nominating anyone in this upazila election. Local government representatives are facing an image crisis. If the positions in local government can be dignified, then capable individuals will be more inclined to participate in this election."
Tazul stated, “MPs and local government representatives do not have conflicts; instead, MPs work in collaboration with upazila chairmen and other public representatives for the comprehensive development of the area."
He stressed that the local government and the central government will have to work through coordination to build a Smart Bangladesh.
Presiding the event, Debate for Democracy Chairman Hassan Ahamed Chowdhury Kiron said, “Although the country has made great progress in the last 52 years, there are still many deficiencies in creating good governance at local level. It is yet to reduce the abundance of dishonest people among the local public representatives.”
“There are also allegations of irregularities in disbursement of various benefits provided under the Social Safety Net including widows and disability allowance, and Kabikha, which is creating obstacles in the establishment of Smart Bangladesh,” he added.
Kiron hoped as the government has taken steps to elect local governments without party symbols, it is expected that there will be an opportunity to elect more honest, decent, popular and acceptable candidates.
“Earlier, due to party-based local government elections, the well and acceptable candidates do not participate election to avoid conflicts. As a result, people were deprived of the opportunity to elect their favourite person.”
“The decision to hold local government elections without party symbols is positive. But we have to wait for some more time to see the benefits. To build a 'Smart Bangladesh' it is necessary to strengthen the local government,” he said.
He further said, ”Meanwhile, the unwritten conflict between the upazila chairman and the UNOs in exercising power is a major hindrance in the overall dynamics of the local government system. Besides, parliamentarians should also remove the allegations of influence over local government representatives.”
The debaters of Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) defeated the debaters of East West University in the shadow parliament. At the end of the competition, crests, trophies and certificates were awarded to the winning and losing teams.
