LGED and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday underscored the need for bringing all towns and cities under a ’master plan' to ensure civic amenities to the people.

"It would not be possible In future to provide civic amenities to the people living in different towns and cities if these were not brought under a master plan as almost all towns are being built in an unplanned manner," he said.

Inaugurating a day-long workshop on "Bangladesh Municipal Development Fund (BMDF)" at LGED auditorium here, Bhuiyan said respective Pourashava (Municipal) chairman has to take steps to formulate a master plan for his/her areas. BMDF was set up in 1994 as a government-owned company aimed at bringing about improvement in the infrastructure of city corporations and pourashavas. The activities of the company began with an initial capital of Tk 780 crore provided by the government and the World Bank.

He urged the people’s representatives to take initiatives for bringing necessary recommendations aimed at making the existing union parishad, pourashava and city corporation laws time befitting.

He also urged them to rake effective steps for full implementation of sanitation programmes, waste management and combating child marriage and dowry in their respective localities. The poura chairman has to work with transparency and accountability for the welfare of the people, he said.

He described the existing system of ’’no-confidence” against an elected chairman as an undemocratic and said this practice of removing an elected chairman by some commissioners should be repealed.

Secretary (Local Government Division) AH M Abul Kashem, presided.

The inaugural function was also addressed by President of Municipal Association of Bangladesh and Chairman of Tongi Pourashava Ajmat UUah Khan, Chairman of Singra Pourashava and Secretary General of the Association Shamim Al-Razi and Director of BMDF and Shitakunda Pourashava Chairman Abul Kal am Azad.