There is no alternative to building a strong local government system to institutionalise democracy and ensure public participation and accountability, Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan has said.

He said the country’s overall democratic framework could not be strengthened unless the foundations of democracy were consolidated at the grassroots level.

The minister made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Reto Renggli at his office at the Secretariat on Sunday. State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam was also present.

During the meeting, Dr Moyeen Khan said an effective and strong local government system was particularly important in a densely populated country like Bangladesh to ensure government services reached people at their doorsteps.

He also stressed the need to turn the country’s large population into a skilled workforce and strengthen the financial capacity of local government institutions.

The minister said genuine decentralisation was necessary to make local government institutions more effective. He said their effectiveness could be enhanced by increasing public participation and creating greater opportunities for people to take part in decision-making at the local level.

He also said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was committed to holding free, fair and impartial local government elections.

The meeting discussed a range of issues, including strengthening bilateral relations, democracy and local government institutions, the local government election process, greater participation of rural women in economic activities and tackling the impacts of climate change.

Swiss Ambassador Reto Renggli highlighted the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Switzerland and expressed interest in expanding cooperation in various areas.

He stressed the importance of sharing experiences in areas such as strengthening the capacity of local government institutions, enhancing accountability to citizens and empowering women.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, State Minister Mir Shahe Alam said the discussions focused on ways to further strengthen the local government system and institutionalise democracy.

Particular emphasis was placed on enhancing the financial capacity of local government institutions, decentralisation and increasing public participation at the local level, he said.

The state minister said there were also opportunities for Bangladesh and Switzerland to cooperate in increasing women’s participation in the rural economy, addressing the challenges posed by climate change and sharing experiences of local government elections.

He expressed hope that greater cooperation and exchange of experience in these areas would make bilateral relations deeper and more effective.

Local Government Division Secretary Md Shahidul Hasan and senior officials of the ministry were also pres