RANGPUR, Oct 13, 2021 (BSS) - Union parishads (UP) are playing vital

roles in reaching urban services to rural people to turn every village into a
town to attain the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030 and build a
developed Bangladesh by 2041.

     High officials and public representatives expressed the view at a mass
public hearing on 'Activities of Union Parishad and its Services' held at
Chandanpat union parishad premises under Sadar upazila in the district on
Tuesday.  

     The event was arranged under the auspices of the Efficient and
Accountable Local Governance (EALG) Project of the Local Government Division.  

     The UNDP, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and Danish
International Development Agency extended support in arranging the occasion.

     National Project Director of the EALG Project and Additional Secretary
of the Local Government Division Mustakim Billah Faruqui attended the event
as the chief guest.

     With Chandanpat union Chairman Md Amenur Rahman in the chair, Deputy
Director (Local Government) for Rangpur Syed Farhad Hossain and Sadar Upazila
Nirbahi Officer Most Nur Nahar Begum attended the occasion as special guests.

     Members, Secretary and entrepreneur of the Union Digital Centre, heads
of educational institutions, civil society members, service recipient
citizens, women, students, youths and common people of Chandanpat union were
present.

     Syed Farhad Hossain narrated the activities being conducted by the
upazila and union parishads with the EALG project assistance in two upazilas
and 30 unions of six upazilas in Rangpur to strengthen the local government
systems.  

     "Along with enhancing the capacity of local government institutions in
planning and implementing development projects, public awareness is also
being created to change heath practice to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic," he
said.

     The chief guest asked common people various questions related to the
services under 39 categories being provided by the union parishad and
listened to their answers attentively.

     People expressed satisfaction over services being provided by Chandanpat
union parishad and urged for taking and implementing more infrastructural
development projects to turn every village into a town for attaining the SDGs
timely in the union.

     The chief guest expressed satisfaction over the services being provided
efficiently by Chandanpat union parishad to people.

     He lauded the union level public representatives for working
relentlessly during the Covid-19 pandemic in preparing lists of
beneficiaries, distribution of food items, ensuring home quarantine and
creating awareness among the rural people.