Analysis of decentralization in Bangladesh

By Md. Zahurul Islam

1. Bangladesh shares its history with the undivided Indian subcontinent. The British in
India in fact gave local government a legal shape with municipal administration system for
the first time in 1793. But, prior to that, an identical system of local village society did exist
in India, where Gram Panchayet (local government village tier) had a significant role. In the
gradual development of the system, the Bengal Act 1842 and Municipal Act 1850 were
introduced. The local government system got a stronger foundation when 118 Municipal
Boards were formed in Bengal in 1947 after inclusion of provisions relating to a newer
system of social arbitrations, conservancy activities and appointment of choukidars
(guards) for maintaining security in villages and towns. In 1972, the local government
system got a newer magnitude in independent Bangladesh.

After independence in 1971, the Constitution of Bangladesh in Article 59 stipulated that:

a. Responsibilities of local government in every administrative unit of the Republic are
entrusted to local bodies composed of persons elected in accordance with law;
b. Everybody such as is referred to in clause (i) shall, subject to this Constitution and in
accordance to law, perform within the appropriate administrative unit such functions as
shall be prescribed by Act of Parliament, which may include functions relating to:
i. administration and work of public officers;
ii. Maintenance of public order;
iii. the preparation and implementation of plans relating to public services and
economic development.

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c. In Article 60, the Constitution provided that for the purpose of giving full effect to the
provision of Article 59, the Parliament shall by law confer power to the local government
bodies referred to in the Article including power to impose taxes for local purposes, to
prepare their budgets and maintain funds.
2.

Decentralization practice in Bangladesh involves four dimensions: Political

(devolution), Administrative (De-concentration and delegation), Fiscal (Self-finance) and

-Economic or Market (privatization and deregulation) Decentralization. In other words
Decentralization in Bangladesh is a mixture of administrative, fiscal, economic and political
functions and relationships.
Decentralization practice in Bangladesh is political or devolution in that sense that
devolution refers to the transfer of authority for decision making, finance, and management
to a quasi-autonomous units of local government with corporate status. It likes municipal
system in Bangladesh municipal council is composed of locally elected bodies with
necessary officials. It has also the power and authority for decision making financing and
management of public affairs with the participation of local people.
Decentralization in Bangladesh is Administrative (De-concentration and delegation) in that
sense that political Decentralization implemented by Decentralization and delegation form.
Decentralization involves spreading the decision-making authority and financial and
management responsibilities among across different levels of the central government, like
as various divisions and districts of Bangladesh for the convenience of administration the
country is divided into six administrative divisions each placed under a divisional
commissioner (Executive chief) Each division is further sub-divided in to Zila (District).
There are Sixty four (64) district in Bangladesh is headed by a deputy commissioner (DC)
assisted by other officials. On the other hand delegation refers to the transfer a
responsibility for decision-making and administration of public functions from the central
government to semi-autonomous organizations that are not wholly controlled by the central
government but are ultimately accountable to it. Like as City Corporation, University, and

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Sericulture Board etc. in Bangladesh. These organizations usually have a great deal of
discretion in decision making.

The other two dimensions are Fiscal and Market Decentralization these two types of
Decentralization is the passing over the private sector of the functions exclusively
performed by government. Actually fiscal Decentralization transfer of two things to local
governments and private organizations fund to deliver decentralization functions and
revenue generating power and authority to decide on expenditure like as union
municipality in Bangladesh. On the other hand economic dimension is manifested through
privatization and deregulation. This type of Decentralization promotes the engagement of
business community groups, cooperatives, private voluntary associations, and other nongovernmental organizations for example trade associations (Chambers of commerce and
industry), Parties, Garments Industries, Grameen Bank, BRAC, ASA, (NGOs) etc. in
Bangladesh context to be considered.
.
3.

Municipalities in Bangladesh draw legal basis from the Municipal Act 2009 which

provides legal structure, revenue & expenditure assignment, functions & responsibilities
and relationship with government. The Municipality Act guides and control local financing
from both tax & non tax sources and required them to provide urban services and
infrastructure facilities to the people. The nature of services and source of funds of
municipality:
Services:
Sanitation, solid waste disposal, road construction and maintenance, street lighting, parks,
pay ground, poverty reduction, slum development, urban planning etc
Source of fund:
Property tax, conservancy, lighting & water rates, rental incomes, shared revenue
(property transfer fee only), government grant (transfer) and donor fund (channeled
through government)

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Bangladesh in spite of much more democratic provision in the Constituency for the local
government failed to give complete shape the local government. Bangladesh ULG cannot
make any action of significant change with regard to reform without being approved by
central government even change in fess. Most of the development and maintenance work
carried out from government grant while own sources are kept mainly for payment of
salary and wages, office maintenance and payment of electricity bills.
4.

Main problems of local government in Bangladesh may be identified as follows

which are obstacles to implement the Decentralized effort.

i)

Colonial administrative pattern

ii)

Politico-administrative contradictions:

iii)

Frequent changes in the local government structure with the change of

political power at the national level,

iv)

Complete dependence of local government on national government officials;

v)

Inadequate mobilization of local resources;

vi)

Poor capacity of local government

vii)

Dependency on central government funds.

Decentralization of powers and functions to local government bodies should not be in

paper rather specific policies and directions should be triggered for actual decentralization/
devolution. For this, the functions, powers, allocations and responsibilities of local
government bodies should be spelt out.
Lastly, it may be concluded by saying that at present no absolute democratic
decentralization is found in Bangladesh; rather there is administrative decentralization
instead. It is desirable that if the government follows the decentralization policy such that
should be transformed into democratic decentralization so that local government can
operate without interference or dependence from the central government.
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