Govt orders overhaul of all local-level committees

The Prime Minister’s Office has ordered the reconstitution and updating of all government committees operating at the divisional, district and upazila levels under various ministries, departments, directorates and agencies.

The concerned authorities have been asked to submit updated information on the reconstituted committees to the Prime Minister’s Office by September 15, 2026.

The directive was issued in a letter on Tuesday (August 18), signed by Mohammad Ashraful Islam, director-2 at the Prime Minister’s Office.

According to the letter, multiple committees have been formed at different levels of the local administration to implement and coordinate government programmes. However, a review found that many of them were formed several years ago and their membership and structures are no longer up to date. In some cases, records of the committees’ gazettes and activities are also unavailable.

The Prime Minister’s Office therefore instructed the authorities to reconstitute and update all existing committees.

The directive also emphasised ensuring adequate representation of local stakeholders. Each reconstituted committee must include three respected local individuals, including at least one woman. The committee chairperson or convener will nominate the three members.

The order covers 98 priority committees listed in an annexure, as well as all other existing committees at the divisional, district and upazila levels under ministries, departments, directorates and government agencies.

The authorities have been instructed to complete the process and report the updated information to the Prime Minister’s Office by September 15.

The move is expected to strengthen local stakeholder participation, coordination and accountability in the implementation of government programmes.