Dhaka, 25 January 2023: Dr. Junaid Kamal Ahmad, Vice President of Operations for the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) of the World Bank Group today hoped that Bangladesh would benefit more from a comprehensive decentralization program by striking the right balance between the allocation of both political and fiscal powers. ‘Urbanization, digitalization, and automation will surely make Bangladesh a smart country. It is high time for Bangladesh now to decide on its own about its path towards decentralization to transform local governance more transparent, accountable and pro-people’, Dr. Kamal observed during a talk held today at Syndicate Hall of North South University. Dr. Kamal is also a founder life member of NSU Board of Trustees.
NSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Atiqul Islam chaired the talk on ‘From City Corporations to Union Parishads: Bringing the State Closer to People - What are the Global Lessons?’, organized by NSU’s South Asian Institute of Policy ad Governance (SIPG). Highlighting several successful examples of political-fiscal power balances at local levels, including South Africa, Dr. Kamal observed that decentralization is an ongoing political process which continuously requires adjustment to bring the people closer to the government. Professor Atiqul Islam urged NSU faculties to conduct more applied research on local governance issues to provide benefits to people through successful implementation of programs by the government. Government officials, researchers, journalists, faculty members, and students participated.
