A government elected through the people’s votes must work swiftly and effectively to meet their expectations, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moin Khan has said.

He said public representatives are elected by the people and entrusted with responsibilities for a five-year term. After five years, they have to face the people again. Therefore, ensuring public services and remaining accountable to the people for their activities are responsibilities of an elected government.

The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at a review meeting on “Solar Power, Dengue Prevention and Development Programmes” organised by the Local Government Division at the Multipurpose Hall of the Cooperative Bhaban in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, on Saturday (October 3).

The local government minister said government officials and elected representatives share the same objective of serving the people. Development activities must be implemented quickly while ensuring the maximum use of limited resources.

He said solar power can play an important role in addressing the country’s electricity problems. Solar panels should be installed on the rooftops of union parishad and upazila parishad buildings, while people at the rural level should also be encouraged to install solar panels on their rooftops. Storing surplus electricity generated during the day in batteries for use at night could reduce dependence on the national grid, he added.

Speaking as a special guest, State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari stressed honesty, transparency and efficiency in delivering government services and implementing development projects at the grassroots level. He said integrity and professional efficiency are being prioritised in appointments and promotions. He also urged field-level administrative officials to consider their workplaces as their own communities and perform their duties with sincerity.

State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, also speaking as a special guest, said the upazila administration has an important role in successfully implementing the government’s public welfare programmes. He said Family Cards and Farmer Cards would be distributed to all families and farmers in phases over the next four years. Licences for fertiliser dealers would be issued soon after verification of the dealer list.

Regarding infrastructure, he called for replacing bricks with concrete (CC) and uni-blocks on small rural roads, introducing drainage systems on roads in markets and port areas, and maintaining a safe distance when excavating ponds alongside roads. He also said work on laws and regulations for registering easy bikes is underway.

He also called for assessing the potential of producing organic fertiliser and electricity from waste and encouraged educational institutions to organise annual sports and cultural competitions.

Mir Shahe Alam said the administration, puja committees and social security committees must work together to ensure the peaceful celebration of Durga Puja. He urged UNOs to work sincerely to ensure that the local government elections scheduled to begin in January are free, fair and impartial.

He also called for an active role in controlling drugs and reducing corruption and proposed organising an annual conference of UNOs.

Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister A B M Abdus Sattar, Public Administration Secretary Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, Local Government Division Secretary Md Shahidul Hasan, Rural Development and Cooperatives Division Secretary Dr Rafiqul E Mohamed, Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khaleq, and Power Division Secretary Ms Mirana Mehrukh, among other senior officials, attended the meeting.

Chief executive officers of all city corporations, deputy directors (Local Government) of the districts, upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) and administrators of municipalities were also present.