Local govt bodies urged to gear up tax collection
Thursday, 2 December 2010
FE Report
Experts, academics and elected representatives Wednesday called for amending certain local government (LG) laws to help raise internal resources, which can in turn speed root-level development.
They also underscored the need for proper functioning of the elected local government bodies and introduction of efficient tax collection system at the union and upazila levels.
AKM Mozammel Haq, a ruling party lawmaker, said that the elected representatives must go through the latest amendment to the Union Parishad Act, which has empowered the local body to exercise their power.
Mr Haq, who also chairs the parliamentary standing committee on the Land Ministry, said it would be unfair if a ministry asks local government bodies to implement the government's development programmes with their money.
"The government must provide the local bodies with logistics and funds," he said.
His comments came at a discussion meeting, jointly organised by DemocracyWatch and DANIDA in the city.
Mr Haq alleged all successive governments had violated the constitution by neglecting the local government since 1975.
"The constitution mentions that the local government will be ruled by the elected representatives. So any interruption is undesired," said the MP.
He also said that the elected representatives of the union parishad should go through the Union Parishad Act 2009 and implement it to mobilise resources.
Experts, academics and elected representatives Wednesday called for amending certain local government (LG) laws to help raise internal resources, which can in turn speed root-level development.
They also underscored the need for proper functioning of the elected local government bodies and introduction of efficient tax collection system at the union and upazila levels.
AKM Mozammel Haq, a ruling party lawmaker, said that the elected representatives must go through the latest amendment to the Union Parishad Act, which has empowered the local body to exercise their power.
Mr Haq, who also chairs the parliamentary standing committee on the Land Ministry, said it would be unfair if a ministry asks local government bodies to implement the government's development programmes with their money.
"The government must provide the local bodies with logistics and funds," he said.
His comments came at a discussion meeting, jointly organised by DemocracyWatch and DANIDA in the city.
Mr Haq alleged all successive governments had violated the constitution by neglecting the local government since 1975.
"The constitution mentions that the local government will be ruled by the elected representatives. So any interruption is undesired," said the MP.
He also said that the elected representatives of the union parishad should go through the Union Parishad Act 2009 and implement it to mobilise resources.