The interim government aims to transfer responsibilities to elected representatives through local government elections, according to Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives.

Speaking at a discussion event on National Local Government Day 2025 at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Tuesday (February 25), he stated that the government seeks to hold city corporation and municipal elections as soon as possible to address public issues.

He acknowledged various challenges in the current situation but emphasized that municipal and city corporation elections should be conducted promptly. He also pointed out issues such as law and order and stated that the government is working to free local government institutions from corruption. To achieve this, administrators have been appointed in place of representatives who fled from the fallen fascist regime, and a reform commission has been formed to restructure the sector.

He urged political leaders to uphold the spirit of July and refrain from making controversial statements that hinder qualitative changes in politics.

Dr. Tofail Ahmed, head of the Local Government Reform Commission, stated that while elections are a key element of democracy, they are not its sole criterion. He noted that the previous government was initially elected with significant popularity and later participated in elections despite controversies. However, due to corruption and misrule, they were forced to flee. He remarked that no other country in history has seen an exodus of representatives ranging from the prime minister to local council members, which highlights the weakness of democracy and local governance.

He further explained that local government institutions had been plagued by severe corruption. While government officials currently manage these institutions instead of elected representatives, corruption has not been entirely eliminated. In this context, Dr. Yunus’s government has undertaken reforms in the sector, and the reform commission has submitted its report, which will now be reviewed by the Consensus Commission.

The event was chaired by Md. Nizam Uddin, Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives, and attended by administrators from various city corporations, municipalities, and local government representatives.