The workshop on the 'Role of journalist, good governance and development of local government' was organised by Journalist Forum of Local Government Development at Barendra Unnayan Forum auditorium.

At least 60 journalists from print and electronic media, civil society members, teachers, lawyers, NGO workers and UP members took part in the workshop.

Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, country director of The Hunger Project, was present at the workshop as main speaker.

Hasan Millat, convenor of Rajshahi unit of the forum, delivered the welcome speech.

The inaugural session was addressed by the Editor of the Daily Barta SMA Kader, President of Rajshahi Union of Journalist Mustafizur Rahman Alam, Prof ANM Saleh of Rajshahi University, NGO leader SK Lalon and Director of Barendra Unnayan Forum Faizullah Chowdhury.

In the concluding session, an open discussion was held where media men identified major obstacles against the strengthening of the local government.

These included non-cooperation of law makers with local government representatives, violation of the UP manual by both the law makers as well as the officials of the central government, tendency to keep woman representatives non-functional, apathetic attitude towards the representatives of the opposition political parties and insolvency of administrative institutions at the grassroots level.

The workshop was moderated by SM Shaju, member-secretary of Rajshahi unit of the forum and Rajshahi bureau chief of daily Amar Desh.