President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that strengthening democracy requires strengthening local government, adding that democracy must be given institutional form.
He made the remarks on Sunday (September 13) afternoon at Bangabhaban during a courtesy meeting with administrators of the country’s 33 district councils.
Describing local government as democracy’s greatest strength, the president instructed the district council administrators to remain active and vigilant in working to overcome the corruption left behind by the fascist era.
During the meeting, the district council administrators raised various demands with the president, including a call to upgrade their status. The president assured them that this is a government of the people and that steps would be taken quickly to resolve their concerns.
The president also noted that the government is working seriously on strengthening the local government system as part of decentralising power. He gratefully recalled the active participation of district council administrators in restoring democracy and in the long movement against fascism.
The president further gave the administrators necessary guidance on bringing momentum to the district councils’ development activities, ensuring citizen services at the local level, and maintaining administrative transparency.