Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has stressed the urgent need to translate local government reform proposals into action, saying reforms must not remain confined to paper.
"Let us not delay. These reforms must move from paper to practice as soon as possible," Dr Yunus said on Sunday while receiving the final report from the Local Government Reform Commission at the State Guest House Jamuna.
The Commission, led by Professor Tofail Ahmed, submitted its comprehensive report after months of research, fieldwork, and stakeholder consultations. It contains a series of far-reaching proposals aimed at improving the efficiency and accountability of local government institutions.
Emphasising transparency and civic participation, Dr Yunus announced plans to make the report publicly accessible. “We will make the full report public so that citizens, experts, and stakeholders can access and understand the reforms that are being proposed,” he said. He further suggested that the report should be studied in schools to help foster civic awareness from an early age.
In presenting the report, Professor Tofail Ahmed urged the Consensus Commission to carefully review and reflect on the recommendations. He explained that the report is divided into two main sections, with the first focusing on structural reforms and the second offering what he described as “a single idea to implement a thousand others”—a scalable and practical framework for change.
Professor Ahmed stressed the goal of making local government institutions “smarter and more efficient” in delivering services to the public. The report includes a dedicated chapter on resource management, with a proposal that the Local Government Division assume a more active supervisory role to ensure accountability and transparency.
The Commission also highlighted serious challenges plaguing urban local bodies, especially the Dhaka City Corporation. Among the most pressing issues identified are departmental inefficiencies and widespread corruption. Professor Ahmed noted that bribery persists across various layers, from large-scale infrastructure projects to routine public services, undermining effective governance.
The handover ceremony was attended by all commission members, including Professor Dr Ferdous Arfina Osman, Abdur Rahman, Dr Mahfuz Kabir, Mahshuda Khatun Shefali, Professor Dr Mohammad Tarikul Islam, Elira Dewan, Professor Dr Kazi Maruful Islam, AKM Tarikul Alam, Helena Parveen, and Mojbah Uddin Khan.
Formed in November, the eight-member Commission was tasked with examining and proposing reforms across various tiers of local government, including Union Parishads, Municipalities, Upazila Parishads, Zila Parishads, and City Corporations.
Earlier, Professor Tofail Ahmed reiterated the need to reassess the role of members and councillors in local government bodies, noting that their roles are currently treated as part-time engagements. He advocated for lifting the existing restrictions and aligning the system with international practices, where councillors serve in a part-time capacity while mayors and chairpersons hold full-time responsibilities.
Dr Yunus's remarks signaled a clear intent to accelerate the reform process and ensure that the changes meaningfully impact governance and service delivery at the grassroots level.
