Proposal to establish local government under parliamentary system
The Local Government Reform Commission, formed by the interim government, has recommended changing the existing system of local government institutions introduced by General Ayub Khan in the 1960s during the Pakistan era and establishing them on the model of the parliamentary system. Although local government institutions are currently operated under five separate laws, the recommendation calls for operating them through two laws. According to the commission, if this system is implemented, time and money will be saved in the elections of local government institutions. According to the recommendation, the organizational structure of local government institutions will be divided into two main parts. One is the legislative part, the other is the executive part. The head of the legislative part will be the ‘chairman’, who is similar to the speaker of the National Assembly. The head of the executive part will be the chairman or mayor, who will also be considered as the council or council leader, who is similar to the leader of the parliament. In addition, the recommendation proposes to abolish party symbols in local government elections.
These issues have been learned from the report of the Local Government Reform Commission. It also says that currently there is a three-tier institutional structure of ‘rural local government’ in the country. These three tiers of rural local government are the union council, upazila council and district council. And the two institutions of urban local government are the municipality and the city corporation.
Major reforms have been proposed in the law and organizational structure of these local government institutions.
The proposal recommends fundamental changes in the functioning and structure of the district council among the three rural local government institutions. It says that the district council will be a decentralized planning unit. The office of the deputy commissioner will separately represent the national government and will be engaged in land management. And all the development-related departments of the district will be entrusted to the district council under the leadership of the chairman of the district council. An officer of the rank of joint secretary will be appointed as the chief executive officer of the district council. Similarly, all the officers and employees working in various departments in the upazila council and union council will be entrusted with their work and financial resources.
The report of the reform commission says that due to rapid urbanization, cities are expanding and rural areas are gradually shrinking. Within the next 10 years, the number of levels of local government should be reduced and the division between rural and urban systems should be eliminated, and a homogeneous local government institution should be established. The Commission believes that the organizational structures of the three institutions of Vidyaman Rural Local Government are not compatible. The legal structure, organizational structure and electoral system of the three institutions of Union Parishad, Upazila Parishad and Zilla Parishad are arranged in an unequal manner. It has been recommended to restore it in a homogeneous manner.
Parliamentary System: The recommendation states that the local government system and institutions should be restructured on the model of the national government of the country, and the election and working methods should be rearranged. If these systems are implemented, the electoral system will be simple, cost-effective, healthy and democratic, and a positive system for the development of a democratic and constructive policy debate at the grassroots can be developed. Just as the elected members of parliament are at the center of all parliamentary activities in the National Parliament, similarly, the members or councilors of all local government institutions, regardless of village or city, will be the main controllers of all decision-making in local government institutions.
The Reform Commission has said that the organizational structure of every local government institution, regardless of village or city, will be divided into two main parts, the legislative part and the executive part. The legislative part will be headed by the ‘Chairman’ and the executive part will be headed by the Chairman or Mayor. The Chairman will perform duties similar to those of the Speaker of the National Parliament. He will convene the meetings of the council in consultation with the Chairman. He will ensure that all members can give their opinions and participate in debates on any particular issue. He will also make arrangements for the formation of all local committees and regular meetings.
The Chairman will be assisted by a full-time secretary and a secretariat of five members. After the general election, after the gazette is published by the Election Commission, all members will read and sign an oath prescribed by law. No official from outside the council or council will come and make the members take the oath. After taking the oath, the Chairman will be elected by the votes of all the general members in the first meeting of the council. After taking the oath in the presence of a representative from the Election Commission, the ‘Chairman’ will accept the nomination for the election and will conclude the election of the Chairman through a secret ballot. After the Chairman is elected, the Chairman of the Council will take the election of the Council or the Mayor or Chairman of the Council under his chairmanship. The members will elect the Chairman and Mayor from among the members by secret ballot within the Council. At this time, the Upazila Election Office or an Upazila-level official nominated by the Election Commission will be present. He will assist the Chairman in conducting this election.
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