Prof Muzaffer Ahmad, president of Shujon, called for an 'umbrella law for local government', saying that the issues like infrastructure, accountability, independent responsibility, finance and authority should be taken into account during the formulation of the law.

Shushashoner Jonney Nagorik (Shujon) and the Hunger Project, Bangladesh jointly organised the roundtable titled, 'Local Government: Views of the stakeholders and international experience' at Cirdap auditorium in the city.

Four papers highlighting the views of civil society, political parties and bureaucrats and the international experience regarding local government reforms were presented at the roundtable.

Illustrating a number of examples of decentralisation across the country, Junaid Ahmad of World Bank stressed the need to develop interface between the lowest tier of the government and citizens' assemblies, involving civil society as watchdog and linking institutions of voice to fiscal transfers and audits.

Terming bureaucracy an important stakeholder in political dynamics of decentralisation, Prof Dr Atiur Rahman, department of development studies, University of Dhaka, said, "Most bureaucrats support the on-going decentralisation plan."

Explaining the views of politicians who are sceptical about the role of bureaucrats, Dr Mirza Hasan said, "Local government reform strategy must be designed in such a way that all critical policy components (political, administrative and financial autonomy) of it can be implemented simultaneously."

Interviews with over 100 local government leaders, civil society members and NGO workers have revealed that local government leaders fear that two major political parties, MPs and bureaucrats as well as big NGOs would resist decentralisation, said Nilufar Ahamad while presenting the paper of Zarina Rahman Khan, professor, dept of Public Administration, University of Dhaka.

Jatiya Party leader and former lawmaker GM Quader laid emphasis on accountability at all levels of governance.

He also said that if local government representatives get involved in misappropriation of funds, MPs can be assigned to monitor the situation.

Prof Tofail Ahmed and AIBY Siddiqui, former secretary, ministry of local government, insisted on introducing intensive training programme for the local government representatives, while Abul Mal Abdul Muhit asked the stakeholders to carefully consider functions, finance and functionaries for a vibrant local government.

Columnist Syed Abul Maksud, Lt Col (Rtd) Shawkat Ali, Advocate Rahmat Ali and Golam Sarwar Milon also spoke.