DHAKA: The International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB), a private forum, Tuesday made a 10-point suggestion for upgrading city governance through granting autonomy to the city corporations and for the development of private sector.

Its leaders put forward the recommendations at an exchange-of-views meeting organized at a city hotel by the IBFB with the title ‘City governance and development in private sector’.

The suggestions include giving autonomy to the city corporations, upgrading the post of mayor to cabinet minister, amendment to articles 12 and 13 of the 2009 law regarding the sacking of the mayor and councilors, handover of the traffic police and their services to city corporations.

Ensuring transparency of service organizations’ chiefs, making separate allocation for city corporations in the national budget, launching separate cadre services for local government, waste management through transport and initiatives for increasing participation of private sector in overall development of cities, including public health, are also suggested.

Former Chittagong City Mayor Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury, speaking at the meeting, said they had exchanged views with civil-society members and stakeholders on the issue early this month and took their suggestions.

“We will exchange views with people of different professions in Rajshahi, Khulna and Chittagong on city governance and make the final recommendations on the subject on August 10 in Dhaka,” he told the meet.

Present among others were vice-president of IBFB Saiful Alam, executive director Brigadier-General (ret) M. Mofizur Rahman and director (research) Dr. ABM Mofizur Rahman.

BDST/1424, June 29, 2010
HA/NS/KL/RT/EH/MUA