FROM BRAC CENTER: Apart form the corruption and other difficulties, the local government authorities are facing severe manpower shortage in its districts, municipal and union levels.

There are 40 percent manpower shortage in municipalities, 25 percent in Union Parishads and 20 percent in Zila Parishads.

A study conducted by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) revealed the data at a roundtable discussion on local government organized by TIB at city’s BRAC Centre Inn on Sunday morning.

TIB Research and Policy Department Assistant Manager Mohammad Rabiul Islam, deputy program manager Nahid Sharmin and Program Manager Farhana Rahman presented the research findings.

According to the research paper, besides manpower shortage there are political influence and corruptions in hiring and transferring employees and their salaries in local government institutions.

State minister for local government, rural development and cooperative Mashiur Rahman Ranga local government experts Professor Zarina Rahman Khan and Dr Tofail Ahmed and Dhaka University Public Administration Department Professor Salahuddin M Aminuzzaman also spoke.

With TIB Trustee Board member M Hafizuddin Khan in the chair, the function was moderated by executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman.

BDST: 1530 HRS, MAY 25, 2014