Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Sunday called for greater decentralisation and stronger local government institutions, saying democracy could not be firmly established without empowering elected bodies at the grassroots.

“There is no alternative to building a strong local government system to institutionalise democracy and ensure people’s participation and accountability,” Moyeen Khan said.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Reto Renggli at the Secretariat in Dhaka, according to the ministry.

Moyeen Khan said democracy needed strong foundations at the grassroots before it could function effectively at the national level.

For a densely populated country such as Bangladesh, he said, capable local governments were also essential for delivering public services closer to citizens.

The minister stressed strengthening the financial capacity of local government institutions and said genuine decentralisation was necessary to give them greater authority and effectiveness.

Greater public participation in local decision-making would further strengthen the system, he added.

Moyeen Khan also said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman remained committed to holding free, fair and impartial local government elections.

State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam attended the meeting.

The two sides discussed Bangladesh-Switzerland cooperation on democratic and local governance reforms, local elections, women’s participation in the rural economy and climate change.

Renggli expressed Switzerland’s interest in expanding cooperation, particularly in building the capacity and accountability of local government institutions and sharing experience on women’s economic empowerment.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Shahe Alam said the discussions focused on decentralisation, improving local governments’ financial capacity and widening citizens’ participation in decision-making.

Local Government Division Secretary Mohammad Shahidul Hasan and other senior officials were also present.