Local Government

128. Majority of the people of the country live in the villages. BNP shall not run the country from the Secretariat in Dhaka. The country will be run on the basis of the wishes and opinion of grass-root people. Local government shall be given utmost importance in the interest of the people. Powers shall be widely decentralized. Responsibility, duty and power of the local government bodies shall be redefined and redesigned. Good governance-friendly atmosphere shall be raised to a desired level. Union Parishad, UpazillaParishad and ZillaParishad shall be duly strengthened so that these bodies may perform effectively in matters of development activities, maintenance of law and order and may provide services like education and health.

129. Solution will be sought wherever the problem arises, basing on the principle of ‘sustainable solution is possible under local leadership’. Local government will be empowered through fixing accountability. The focal point of power and development shall be village oriented. 

130. In order to ensure basic services for the people, local government institutions at every level shall be strengthened and brought to accountability as per laws and rules and regulations. 

131. A portion of the national budget shall be allocated in favour of the local government in view of the inadequacy in government grants and to do away with disparity. An independent Commission created under law will distribute the amount on the basis of definite policies. 

132. At present, elected representatives of the local government are being suspended/dismissed/removed arbitrarily for political reasons, which is immoral and against democratic customs. Unless convicted by the court, the elected representatives of the local government shall not be suspended/dismissed/removed by executive order.