"In the last 15 years, the democratic rulers have never directly ruled out the importance of the local government, but secretly acted against the betterment of the institution," said Dr Akbar Ali Khan, former adviser to the caretaker government.

The Local Government Policy Advocacy Forum organised the meeting titled 'Ideas to reform local government system' at the National Press Club in the city.

This is high time that the caretaker government brought about radical reforms to strengthen democracy, Dr Akbar Ali Khan said.

He also suggested that the government should consider holding the parliamentary elections and the local government elections simultaneously.

"Due to dillydally tactics of the democratic governments, local government elections could not be held on time and eventually they used the body as their tool. It is better to hold the two elections simultaneously," he observed.

He also called for a ban on lawmakers' interference in the activities of the local government bodies.

Stressing the need to form a strong local government commission, Dr Akbar Ali Khan said such a commission can strike a balance whenever there occurs any dispute between the government order and the constitutional rights of the local government bodies.

Prof Dilara Chowdhury of the department of government and politics, Jahangirnagar University, said the paternalistic attitude of the central government has gradually made the local government ineffective. "The local government has forgotten its duty to govern.... the paternalistic attitude has made it crippled," she said.

Advocate Ajmatullah, chairman of Tongi municipality and president of Bangladesh Municipality Association, said the governments through different ordinances curbed the rights of the local government.

Delivering the keynote speech, Prof Dr Salahuddin Aminuzzaman called for making a provision so that the local government can take loans from financial institutions.

He also stressed the need to encourage the non-government initiatives for capacity building of the people.

Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, Advocate Roksana Khondokar, executive director of Khan foundation, and chairmen and members of Union Parishads and municipalities also took part in the meeting.