UNDP Resident Representative Meets Bangladesh Local Government Minister
Local Government Minister Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan and UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller have held a meeting at the Secretariat in Dhaka. Discussions focused on institutional capacity building, upcoming local elections, and joint training initiatives.
On September 15, a courtesy meeting and formal discussion took place between the Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, and the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bangladesh, Stefan Rodriques. The high-level diplomatic and administrative interaction was hosted at the official office of the Minister located within the Secretariat in the capital city of Dhaka.
During the comprehensive discussions held between the two officials, several key areas of mutual interest and administrative cooperation were thoroughly addressed. The agenda prominently featured the overall development of the local government framework in Bangladesh, alongside strategic initiatives aimed at substantially enhancing the institutional capacity of these grassroots administrative bodies.
Emphasizing the vital importance of administrative efficiency, Minister Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan stated during the meeting that it is crucial to increase the capacity of local government institutions in order to successfully deliver government services directly to the doorsteps of the general public. He further added that UNDP's technical experience and expertise in local-level skill development and institutional capacity enhancement can serve as a highly beneficial resource for the government.
Expanding on the broader developmental context, Dr. Khan further remarked that making local government entities fully effective is directly intertwined with the broader national development of the country and the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Consequently, he underscored that taking more effective initiatives in this sector through mutual cooperation with international development partners is an essential step forward.
The high-level meeting also saw the active participation of State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam. In addition to the ministers and the UNDP representative, several other prominent officials were present during the deliberations at the Secretariat, including Shahidul Hasan, Sardar Asaduzzaman, Anwarul Haque, and Yogesh Pradhanang.
Addressing the pressing matter of upcoming electoral processes, State Minister Mir Shahe Alam highlighted that training programs are critically important for elevating the preparedness and operational competence of all relevant stakeholders ahead of local government elections. He suggested that if such training programs could be jointly organized in collaboration with the UNDP, it would undoubtedly play a distinctly positive role in strengthening the overall capability of the local government system.
