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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 8, No. 11
Publication Date: November 25, 2021
DOI:10.14738/assrj.811.11214. Nishat, A. J., Popov, D., Mukharjee, S. K., Victorovna, A. O., & Biswas, B. (2021). Functioning of Local Government in Bangladesh:
Legal and Practical Spheres. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(11). 389-397.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Functioning of Local Government in Bangladesh: Legal and
Practical Spheres
Md. Abu Jakaria Nishat
Department of Economics and Enterprise Management
Moscow State University of Technology “STANKIN” (MSUT STANKIN)
Dmitry Popov
Associate Professor
Department of Economics and Enterprise Management
Moscow State University of Technology “STANKIN” (MSUT STANKIN)
Shanjay Kumar Mukharjee
Assistant Professor
Department of Public Administration and Governance Studies
Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Trishal, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
Avakova Olga Victorovna
Ph.D. in Philosophy, Associate Professor
Department of Foreign Language
Moscow State University of Technology “STANKIN” (MSUT STANKIN)
Bikram Biswas
Lecturer, Department of Educational Administration
Noakhali Science and Technology University
ABSTRACT
Local government is a fundamental part of Government and undeniable part of
development in all spheres of a country. While most of the constructions in the
worlds pronounce various provisions of having local government, it’s got more
significance in recent time. Moreover, without overall participation of the
population of a country, development of all sectors can’t be achieved. Participation
of grassroots people are encouraged and ensured by local institutions. It also
provides the opportunities to the population oriented of making policies and
implementing decision better for them which is ultimately a step forwarding
sustainable development. Since the time of independence from Pakistan in 1971,
Bangladesh has local government system in the constitution of the country. Various
amendments regarding local government have been brought basically when
regimes changed. Thus, till to date, the constitutional provisions have been far
dream from the reality. In the very root level the local government established
maintaining the constitutional provisions can extend the practice of democracy.
Thus, following constitutional scheme and to enhance good governance at all levels
of the society, it’s ripe time for the concerned authority to be more conscious to
establish local government.
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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 8, Issue 11, November-2021
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Keywords: Decentralization, Local Government, Constitution, Effective participation,
Bangladesh
INTRODUCTION
In the modern global arena People don’t want the power to be vested in one hand. People in the
modern world want to participate effectively, enjoy certain rights, and also demand their
wishes to be fulfilled easily effectively. Thus, they elect the representative for central
government to represent their desires properly. But it’s hardly possible for the central
government to provide all facilities to the grassroots people effectively due to some reasons.
The theory of decentralization has been attractive to most of the world leaders already to
overcome the circumstances.
Decentralization is the transfer of powers and factions to local institutions from central one
literally. So, in a specific region, the elected body which perform its duties on behalf of central
government in accordance of laws is defined as local government.
Through the participation of local people to establish local government is a step of forwarding
equal development and upholding fundamental rights of citizens. The concept enables the local
people to think themselves as a significant part of government. Though the establishment of
local government is a constitutional mandate of Bangladesh, the application of such provision
accordingly is a far dream to the reality still to date.
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objective of the research is to represent the real scenario of local government and discover
its importance in the context of Bangladesh. It also shows some inconsistencies with the scheme
of Bangladesh’s constitution in establishing local government. It also analyze the problems
regarding the same and to make possible suggestions for a strong local government.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The research is based on primary and secondary sources of data. Primary data was collected
through structural and semi-structural questionnaires and face-to-face interview. A set of 20
questionnaires was given to 65 selected persons involve local government ranging from
upazella chairman to village police. The sources of secondary data were several, books, article
published in national and international journals, research materials, the constitution of the
People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Laws, Newspapers and internet.
WHAT IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT?
In simple words, local government can be defined as an internal part of central government
which is established trough locally elected representatives to facilitate welfare activities
delegated lawfully. It is building a bridge, connects local people with central government
providing services and grants.
SIGNIFICANCE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Local government establishes and spreads the democracy and democratic institutions to the
lowest level of the society and ensures the development to the local and root levels. It’s
gradually set up to implement the state and development policies of central government. Thus,
local government can ensure sustainable development all spheres of the society ad improve the
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Nishat, A. J., Popov, D., Mukharjee, S. K., Victorovna, A. O., & Biswas, B. (2021). Functioning of Local Government in Bangladesh: Legal and Practical
Spheres. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(11). 389-397.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.811.11214
quality of life. Resources can easily be allocated to local citizen from local institutions by strong
and well democratic local government. In implementing policies or given opinion or raising
voice against the policies and activities of central government, effectiveness and security can
be observed in deferent governmental system is possible by an effective and strong local
government system. Accountability, transparency, responsiveness, effectiveness and security
can be observed in different governmental system by the way. Decentralization reflects various
stages of progress in achieving good governance as outcome of decentralization due to several
dimensions.
Figure 1: Decentralization of local government
The actual formula of decentralization of powers and functions from the highest authority to
the lowest one can be observed in the above figure. Basically, local government is a process of
political decentralization and it should be done in democratic way. Political decentralization
can fully be effective only when the other 2 components of the above figure are added at a time.
The objectives the local government can be enhanced and fulfilled by them. But it is a matter of
fact that according to laws of the different countries in the world the functions and performance
of local government can be different. But there are some factors such as ensuring potable water,
sanitation, solid waste collection, health care and other major economic activities, are widely
considered as the functions of local governments. Some indicators may be considered to verify
the functions and accountability of local government. These include availability of budget and
financial report of local government jurisdiction to councilors, the public and media existence
of internal and external auditions in accordance with public, media existence of internal and
external auditing in accordance with require schedules, existence of a citizen complaint
mechanism and use of input, response time for citizen complaint, increased level of monitoring
of corruption, human rights violation, minimum wages, actual performance reported to public
and local government measurement of citizen satisfaction.
Centralizat
ion
Administrative
Decentralization
Financial Decentralization
Political Decentralization