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Dialogue in Ctg

"‘Local body polls should not be delayed’

Staff Correspondent, ctg
Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday said the government considers elections to local government bodies a way of democratic advancement
It isa non-political elecnonthat can be held under any government whenever the election is due and it should not be delayed, he observed, adding, "Election to the local government bodies is needed for solving regional problems and for protecting the democratic rights of the people in a region".
Zillur was speaking to reporters after a preparatory meeting held for the government's first regional dialogue with non-political organisations and groups scheduled for June 28 at the Institute of Engineers Bangladesh (TEB), Chittagong.
The dialogue, to be held in presence of the chief adviser. would discuss regional issues as well as different aspects of local government elections, overall political environment, post election situation and qualitative improvement of political and social environment.
This was decided at the preparatory meeting held yesterday at Chittagong Circuit House Conference room.
Adviser for housing, public works and communications ministries Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader and Zillur talked to people from different non-political groups and organisations at the meeting.
Zillur observed that the huge participation at the preparatory meeting was an indication of people's respbnseTo the gtwernrhenVs * efforts to ensure democratic process in the local government bodies.
He hoped that all would agree with the government about holding the election to local governmentbodies.
Participants of the preparatory meeting pointed out different problems like water logging, hill cutting and power crisis which are putting the people of Chittagong city and the region in difficulty.
They called for identifying obstacles to upgrading Chittagong to the commercial capital in its true sense. They also underscored the need for initiatives to decentralise power and solve the Vested Property Act issue while the caretaker government is in power.
To prevent hill cutting, which largely contributes to the clogging of the drainage system and causes water logging, they suggested identifying those allowing the illegal practice, including owners of hills and hillocks. They also suggested that equipments for hill cutting could be seized and workers could be detained.
The participants urged the government to raise the allocation for developing the city's drainage system, digging new canals and reexcavating the existing ones.
Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) acting Mayor Manjur Alam, Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Hossain Jamil, Deputy Commissioner Ashraf Shamim, renowned scientist Prof Jamal Nazrul Islam, Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Shah Muhammad Akhter Uddin and heads of different government organisations were also present at the meeting.
Immediately after the meeting the two advisers held a meeting with the heads of authorities concerned in order to speed up the process of improving the drainage system of Chittagong city.
The advisers gave directives to form a coordination committee in this regard with representatives from the CCC, CDA, Water Development Board, Department of Environment and the District Administration.