TSCPL organizes a study tour on Municipal Finance Management, Urban Reforms and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to India and Sri Lanka as part of Asian Development Bank funded Urban Public and Environmental Health Sector Development Program (UPEHSDP). This delegation included a total of 14 officials from Government of Bangladesh and representatives from six municipal corporations of Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna City Corporation, Dhaka South, Barisal, and Sylhet . It is led by the Joint Secretary to Government of Bangladesh and Project Director of the UPEHSDP, Mr. Naim Ahmed Khan.
The objective of the study tour is to expose senior officials of six city corporations, UPEHSDP Officials and Officers from Local Government Division of Bangladesh on global best practices in Municipal Finance Management, Urban Reforms and Public Private Partnerships.
The study trip covered two leading locations in the South Asia region where rapid and extensive urban development and reforms are taking place. These include – 3 cities in India (New Delhi, Bhopal and Bangalore) and Colombo in Sri Lanka. All these locations are renowned for the presence of organizations that have done exemplary work in the field of urban and municipal reforms. These include City corporations such as Bhopal Municipal Corporation, Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) and urban local bodies.
During the visit the following institutions were visited;
• National Institute of Urban Affair (NIUA), New Delhi, India
• Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), India
• Karnataka Municipal Reform Cell, Directorate of Municipal Administration (MRC), India
• Finance Commission, Colombo, Sri Lanka
• Colombo municipal Council, Sri Lanka
• Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development, Sri Lanka
At the meetings, the participants interacted with various officials and personnel of these institutions in order to gain valuable practical experience and knowledge and skills to enable senior officers to encourage, develop and urban development reforms in Bangladesh.
It is noted that during their visit to Bhopal, the participants interacted with the Hon’ble Minister for Urban Development, Shri Babulal Gaur and also had a chance to have detailed discussions with Principal Secretary of Urban Development Department, Mr. S. P. S. Parihar and Commissioner of Urban Administration and Development Directorate Mr. Sanjay Shukla.
In Bangalore, the participants interacted with various officials and personnel of the Karnataka Municipal Reforms Cell and Urban Local Bodies and were of the opinion that many of the practices adopted by Ramanagara, Bangalore and Karnataka should be replicated in Bangladesh. They have also discussed matters of mutual interest with Mr. Saba, the President of Ramanagara City Municipal Council and Mr. Chitanand, the Municipal Commissioner.
The study tour was facilitated by Mr. Sanjay Saxena and organized by TSCPL.