Concerns raised over local govt bodies becoming BNP rehabilitation hubs

Bangla Press Desk:   The government’s decision to appoint Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders as administrators in city corporations and 42 Zila Parishads across the country has triggered widespread political debate.

While BNP leaders and activists have welcomed the move, critics and governance experts have questioned whether local government institutions are being turned into political “rehabilitation centers.”The government, however, has defended the decision, stating that political administrators were appointed to make inactive local government bodies functional again.

According to officials, political leaders may perform more effectively than bureaucrats because of their closer connections with the public. The government also expressed hope that the new appointments would make administrative activities more dynamic, transparent, and effective.

Earlier, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperratives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had said that elections to local government institutions would be held as soon as possible.

However, the appointment of party leaders has raised concerns among observers that such elections might be delayed.

Following the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024, the interim administration removed mayors and chairmen from city corporations, Zila Parishads, upazila parishads and municipalities, most of whom were affiliated with the previous ruling party.

Many of those leaders later went into hiding, while some were arrested. At that time, administrators—mostly government officials—were appointed to manage these institutions.

After the national election and the formation of a BNP-led government under Tarique Rahman on 17 February, the administration began replacing government officials with BNP leaders as administrators in several city corporations. These appointments included leaders who had either lost parliamentary elections or did not receive party nominations.

Among the key appointments, Abdus Salam, a member of the BNP chairperson’s advisory council, was made administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation, while BNP leader Shafiqul Islam Khan was appointed to Dhaka North City Corporation.

In Khulna, BNP central Organising Secretary Nazrul Islam Manju was appointed administrator, while Gazipur BNP President Shawkat Hossain Sarkar received a similar role.

Other appointments included Sakhaowat Hossain in Narayanganj and Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury in Sylhet.

Subsequently, BNP leaders were also appointed as administrators in Barishal, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Rangpur, and Cumilla city corporations. More recently, the government appointed BNP leaders as administrators in 42 Zila Parishads, further intensifying the discussion.

Local government experts have offered mixed reactions. Some believe that elected representatives are essential for effective local governance, while others argue that political leaders may perform better than civil servants who often manage these responsibilities as additional duties.

Tarikul Islam, a member of the Local Government Reform Commission formed during the interim government, said reforms should be passed quickly and elections should be held soon. Until then, he believes political administrators may function more effectively.

However, other experts expressed concern that the move could delay local government elections and strengthen partisan control. Kazi Maruful Islam, a Dhaka University professor and former member of the reform commission, noted that the commission had recommended non-partisan elections and direct voting to reduce political influence and increase public participation in local governance.

Urban governance expert Adil Muhammad Khan, executive director of the Institute for Planning and Development (IPD), criticised the decision, saying that sustainable urban development is not possible without elected representatives.

He emphasised that the government should have prioritized elections instead of appointing administrators and warned that such appointments could influence future elections and weaken accountability.

Political reactions have also been strong. Jamaat-e-Islami, the main opposition party in parliament, protested the earlier appointments of BNP leaders as administrators in city corporations.

In a statement, the party’s Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said appointing partisan figures to such posts contradicts democratic values and could be part of a strategy to delay elections.Despite the criticism, the government maintains that the appointments are intended to ensure better public services. However, experts say that the absence of elected councillors in city corporations is already affecting service delivery. The debate continues over whether these appointments are a temporary administrative measure or a politically motivated decision that could influence the future of local governance in Bangladesh.Source: daily Sun

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