Parliament to decide on party symbols in local polls: Fakhrul

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said parliament would decide whether local government elections shall be held using party symbols.
Speaking to journalists after the formal joining ceremony of newly appointed administrators of six city corporations at the Secretariat, he said the government believed political administrators could deliver better services at the grassroots level.

“Previously, government officials were entrusted with these responsibilities. We believe that if political figures serve as administrators, people will receive more responsive services. That is why political persons have been appointed,” he said.

He added that political leaders were more connected to the people and while elections in other city corporations, municipalities and local bodies would be held in phases. Polls would be arranged first in corporations whose terms have already expired, he added.

State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam also said political administrators were appointed to make local bodies more active and effective.

The newly appointed administrators formally assumed office after meeting the minister at the Secretariat. They are Abdus Salam for Dhaka South City Corporation, Shafiqul Islam Khan for Dhaka North City Corporation, Nazrul Islam Monju for Khulna City Corporation, Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury for Sylhet City Corporation, Sakhawat Hossain Khan for Narayanganj City Corporation and Shawkat Hossain Sarkar for Gazipur City Corporation.