Diplomatic Correspondent: A strong and effective local government system is essential to institutionalising democracy, ensuring people’s participation and strengthening accountability at the grassroots level, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan has said.

“Unless the foundation of democracy is strengthened at the grassroots level, it is not possible to consolidate the overall democratic structure of the state,” he said during a meeting with Switzerland’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Reto Renggli at his office at the Secretariat.

State Minister Mir Shahe Alam was also present at the meeting.

Dr Moyeen Khan said Bangladesh, being a densely populated country, needs an efficient local government system capable of taking public services to people’s doorsteps. He emphasised that strengthening the financial capacity of local government institutions is equally important for making them more effective.

He also stressed the need to transform the country’s large population into a skilled workforce, saying stronger local institutions and a skilled population can together contribute to sustainable national development.

The minister said genuine decentralisation of power is necessary to make local government institutions stronger and more responsive. Greater decision-making authority at the local level, combined with increased public participation, would help make these institutions more accountable to the people, he added.

Dr Moyeen Khan further said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is committed to holding free, fair and impartial elections to local government bodies.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed a range of issues concerning Bangladesh-Switzerland relations, with particular focus on strengthening democracy and local government, increasing rural women’s participation in economic activities and tackling the effects of climate change.

Ambassador Reto Renggli described the existing relationship between Bangladesh and Switzerland as friendly and expressed his country’s interest in expanding cooperation in different areas.

He also stressed the importance of sharing experiences between the two countries, particularly in strengthening the capacity and public accountability of local government institutions and promoting women’s empowerment.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, State Minister Mir Shahe Alam said both sides discussed ways to further strengthen the local government system as part of broader efforts to consolidate democracy.

According to him, Bangladesh and Switzerland agreed on the importance of increasing the financial capacity of local government institutions, decentralising power and ensuring greater participation of people in decision-making at the grassroots level.

He said there was considerable scope for cooperation between the two countries in promoting women’s participation in the rural economy, addressing climate-change challenges and exchanging experiences concerning local government elections.

Mir Shahe Alam expressed hope that greater cooperation and the exchange of experiences in these areas would contribute to further strengthening the relationship between Bangladesh and Switzerland.

Local Government Division Secretary Md Shahidul Hasan and senior officials of the ministry were also present at the meeting.

The discussions underscored a broader development priority for Bangladesh: strengthening democracy not only through national institutions but also by giving people a stronger voice in the governance of their own communities.