The Local Government Division (LGD), in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Embassy of Switzerland, hosted a national-level event titled “Urban Governance and Economic Development” on Thursday at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka.

The event brought together senior government officials, development partners, municipal leaders, private sectors, policy experts, and practitioners committed to strengthening urban systems and local economic development in Bangladesh.

The programme opened with remarks from representatives of LGD, JICA, and the Embassy of Switzerland. They emphasised the collective importance of improving urban governance, enhancing municipal capacities, and scaling models that have demonstrated impact across multiple municipalities and city corporations.

Md Wahadur Rahman, joint secretary of LGD and project director of PRABRIDDHI, highlighted the project’s contribution to municipal capacity and local economic development.

Ichiguchi Tomohide, chief representative of JICA Bangladesh, underscored Japan’s long-standing partnership with Bangladesh in strengthening local governance.

Speaking on behalf of Switzerland, Diepak Elmer, deputy head of mission and head of cooperation, affirmed Switzerland’s continued commitment to fostering competitive, resilient, and citizen-centric municipalities across the country.

The ceremony was formally inaugurated by Md Mahmudul Hasan, director general of the planning, monitoring, evaluation and inspection wing, Local Government Division, who noted the increasing relevance of well-functioning municipalities in driving Bangladesh’s economic ambitions.

In his speech, he stated that effective local economic development is essential for mobilising local resources, improving service delivery, and creating conditions for inclusive growth.

He also appreciated C4C project for preparing the Strategy for Governance of City Corporations, which is working as a roadmap for governance improvement at city corporation level and introducing Annual City Governance Assessment.

He said, “The demonstrated results from PRABRIDDHI and C4C 2 show how systematic municipal strengthening can lead to tangible economic benefits and governance improvement. These approaches can be replicated widely to accelerate local development nationwide.”

Following the opening session, project teams and municipal representatives showcased their achievements under the PRABRIDDHI and C4C 2 programmes.

Presenters from municipalities including Bogura, Shibganj, Bhairab, Jashore, and Kushtia shared practical experiences from the field, reflecting on their efforts to expand revenue mobilisation, modernise service delivery systems, and institutionalise citizen-friendly practices.

Throughout the day, participants engaged in discussions on budgeting and financial reporting, city governance assessment, performance metrics, and emerging lessons from city corporations including Dhaka North, Khulna, Chattogram, Cumilla, and Narayanganj.

Speakers highlighted the value of data-driven decision-making, public–private partnership models, MSME development initiatives, and the practical application of LED tools and methodologies developed through the projects.

A high-level plenary dialogue held in the afternoon focused on the strategic direction for strengthening urban governance in Bangladesh.

Representatives from BIDA, city corporations, LGD, and development partners jointly reflected on the importance of institutionalisation, performance-based resource allocation mechanisms, and long-term municipal reform pathways.

The closing session included reflections on the next steps in advancing city corporation and municipal capacity-building, improving planning and budgeting processes, and expanding local economic development across the country.

The event concluded with a reaffirmation of the shared commitment among LGD, JICA, and Switzerland to continue supporting Bangladesh’s journey towards resilient, efficient, and inclusive urban governance.