International Women's Day 2012: Ensure effective participation of women to establish good governance in local government

Ensure effective participation of women to establish good governance in local government

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) in a roundtable discussion on March 7, 2012 titled ‘Women representatives in establishing good governance at the local government level: possibility, reality and the way forward’ demanded effective participation of women in local government bodies to establish good governance in local government.

Ms Shagufta Yasmin Emily, MP, Whip, 9th Parliament attended the programme as Chief guest and Advocate Sultana Kamal, Chairperson, Board of Trustees of TIB presided over the discussion. Among other eminent personals Nilofer Chowdhury Moni, MP, Dr Jarina Rahman Khan, SDLGARD Deputy Chief of Party, Dr Dilara Chowdhury, Prof of North South University, Akramul Haq, Director of National Institute of Local Government, female Local Government Representatives and stake holders of different levels shared valuable opinion and experiences in the discussion.

TIB Senior Manager Md Shariful Islam presented the findings of a research paper on local government body.

Nilofer Chowdhury Moni said that the term ‘reserved’ deprives woman’s position both in central and local government. “No big political parties nominated female candidates in 2012 Municipal Election which is not acceptable in any way,” she added.

Limitation is in the enforcement not in the law said Akramul Haq, Director of National Institute of Local Government. He also said that law enforcement is not appropriate due to weak governance which creates the scope of corruption.

Sagufta Yasmin MP noted that team work is necessary to solve any problem. Problems of local government representatives can be solved by joint work of central and local government she added.

Referring to the economic emancipation of women she said that economic freedom can bring freedom to women making them self reliant.

TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said that the quantity of women representatives in local government increased in last 10 years and rule of women should be defined and mental compliance is a must to establish leadership of women.

“Good governance is not possible without development of the local government,” said Advocate Sultana Kamal in the programme.