The Local Governance Programme - Sharique (Phase III) Programme, implemented jointly by BIGD and Helvetas Swiss Inter-cooperation organized an Opinion-sharing Meeting with representatives from Upazila and Union Parishads of Dharmapasha and Jamalganj Upazila Parishads, Sunamganj district on July 29, 2015. The programme took place at Jamalganj Upazila Parishad conference room in Sunamganj.
The purpose of the dialogue was to present proposals for policy reform, which the SHARIQUE team had prepared, and seek participants’ views on the following issues: (a) strengthening of Ward Shobhas as social accountability mechanism (b) reform of Standing Committees and (c) streamlining other project-based and sectoral committees.
The programme was attended by S. M. Shofi Kamal, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Jamalganj Upazila; Md. Abdul Motaleb Khan, Chairman, Dharmapahsa Upazila Parishad; Mokarram Hossain, Chairman, Jamalganj Upazila Parishad. Other participants included Vice Chairmen of both Upazila Parishads, Chairmen, Secretaries and Members of Union Parishads.
Under the facilitation of the UNO, a group session was held where participants divided themselves into three groups with each group representing each issue. They reviewed the content of the policy reform proposals as a team and later presented their recommendations and corrections. A vibrant interactive session followed, wherein the local government representatives debated and gave feedback on each other’s presentations. The half-day programme concluded with lunch.