"Interestingly, all political parties that came to power since the country's independence gave the portfolio of LGRD Ministry to their party general secretaries, aiming to gear up their party activities at the grassroots level, not to strengthen local government," he told a function here yesterday.

Dr Salahuddin presented a keynote paper on "Empowerment of Union Parishad: Possible Intervention", at the three-day programmme titled "Role of Media in Strengthening Local Government". BCDJC organised the programme at its office in cooperation with Local Government and Development Journalists Forum for reporters working for national dailies.

Referring to some mandatory activities of Union Parishad (UP) chairmen, he said most of the chairmen and local government representatives, in fact, do not know what their responsibilities are.

"The constitution and local government ordinance have clearly described the responsibilities of chairman and local representatives, but unfortunately they are not aware of their duties," Dr Slahuddin said.

Prof Dr Jarina Rahman Khan of Local Government initiative, LGI Grand Manager Indeok Oak, BCDJC president Naimul Islam Khan, Media and Communication specialist of LG Initiative Jamil Ahmed and executive director of CDC Muhammad Jahangir, addressed the seminar.