Changing Pattern of Local Government: Changing Pattern of Local Government: Phases of DevelopmentPhases of Development

Bangladesh Period (1971 - till date)Bangladesh Period (1971 - till date)

Presented by Presented by Dr. AMM Shawkat Dr. AMM Shawkat

AliAli

For sometime after 1971, with the emergence of Bangladesh, there For sometime after 1971, with the emergence of Bangladesh, there

was a big vacuum in the local government system. was a big vacuum in the local government system.

The BD system, as stated earlier, was not acceptable to the then The BD system, as stated earlier, was not acceptable to the then

ruling party: Awami League.ruling party: Awami League.

This led to an interim response from the government which decided This led to an interim response from the government which decided

to dissolve all local councils. The legal instrument through which this to dissolve all local councils. The legal instrument through which this

was effected is called The President’s Order (PO) 7 of 1972.was effected is called The President’s Order (PO) 7 of 1972.

The other reason was that most of the elected officials of local The other reason was that most of the elected officials of local

councils were not available in the locality.councils were not available in the locality.

Overall, the government made it clear that the prevailing local council Overall, the government made it clear that the prevailing local council

chairmen and members did not represent the people, besides there chairmen and members did not represent the people, besides there

was a persistent demand from the people for dissolution of local was a persistent demand from the people for dissolution of local

councils.councils.

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The government decided to go for this course of action till The government decided to go for this course of action till

such time as new local government system were established such time as new local government system were established

under the law made by the legislature of Bangladesh.under the law made by the legislature of Bangladesh.

PO 7 was issued on 27 January 1972. It provided for PO 7 was issued on 27 January 1972. It provided for

appointment of a committee at all tiers.appointment of a committee at all tiers.

On 28 February, 1972, PO 7 was amended by PO 17. The On 28 February, 1972, PO 7 was amended by PO 17. The

amending provision bears a reference to the Thana amending provision bears a reference to the Thana

Development Committee to be appointed by the DC.Development Committee to be appointed by the DC.

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The early years of Bangladesh are characterised by lack of consistent and The early years of Bangladesh are characterised by lack of consistent and appropriate political direction.appropriate political direction.

This is evidenced from a quick succession of changes in the decisions for This is evidenced from a quick succession of changes in the decisions for the composition of local councils.the composition of local councils.

The Ministry of Local Government appointed the DC and the CO as The Ministry of Local Government appointed the DC and the CO as administrators of Zila Board and Thana Development Committee administrators of Zila Board and Thana Development Committee respectively. For Union Councils, village level officials were similarly respectively. For Union Councils, village level officials were similarly appointed.appointed.

A conflicting arrangement was made subsequently by a government circular A conflicting arrangement was made subsequently by a government circular providing for selection of Committees with political elements by the MCAs. providing for selection of Committees with political elements by the MCAs.

The MCAs were to select, in consultation with other political leaders, The MCAs were to select, in consultation with other political leaders, Chairmen and members of Union Phanchayats. For Thana Development Chairmen and members of Union Phanchayats. For Thana Development Committee, they were to select one of them as Chairman. In Zila Board, the Committee, they were to select one of them as Chairman. In Zila Board, the MCAs were to select one of them as a member from each subdivision. The MCAs were to select one of them as a member from each subdivision. The government was to select, in consultation with the MCAs and other political government was to select, in consultation with the MCAs and other political leaders, a non-official member from each Thana and appoint a Chairman. leaders, a non-official member from each Thana and appoint a Chairman. The Collector and other departmental officers were to be official members. The Collector and other departmental officers were to be official members.

The composition of local councils thus laid down was revoked by another The composition of local councils thus laid down was revoked by another circular in April, 1972. This circular provided for official administrators.circular in April, 1972. This circular provided for official administrators.

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In 1975, the government issued the District Administration In 1975, the government issued the District Administration

Council Act. It led to a radical restructuring of local Council Act. It led to a radical restructuring of local

government and administration following the appointment of government and administration following the appointment of

District Governor and formation of District Administrative District Governor and formation of District Administrative

Council.Council.

All subdivisions were abolished and these were converted All subdivisions were abolished and these were converted

into districts. This was done in early 1975.into districts. This was done in early 1975.

Before the new system could be made functional, martial law Before the new system could be made functional, martial law

was imposed and the relevant law was repealed.was imposed and the relevant law was repealed.•

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In 1976, a new local government law was promulgated by the In 1976, a new local government law was promulgated by the

military government.military government.

The law revived the age-old three tier system: Union Parishad, The law revived the age-old three tier system: Union Parishad,

Thana Parishad and Zila Parishad.Thana Parishad and Zila Parishad.

The Zila Parishad was to be composed of elected, official and The Zila Parishad was to be composed of elected, official and

women members. Provision was also made for a chairman and women members. Provision was also made for a chairman and

a Vice Chairman.a Vice Chairman.

However, since no election was held, the parishad remained an However, since no election was held, the parishad remained an

unelected body. The Deputy Commissioner was appointed unelected body. The Deputy Commissioner was appointed

administrator.administrator.

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In 1985, consequent upon the recommendations of a In 1985, consequent upon the recommendations of a

workshop organised by the National Institute of Local workshop organised by the National Institute of Local

Government (NILG), the then President directed the National Government (NILG), the then President directed the National

Committee for Administrative Reforms to work out the future Committee for Administrative Reforms to work out the future

fate of Zila Parishad.fate of Zila Parishad.

This led to a separate law on Zila Parishad in 1988. Prior to This led to a separate law on Zila Parishad in 1988. Prior to

this law, there were 22 Zila Parishads. Ultimately, the number this law, there were 22 Zila Parishads. Ultimately, the number

because 64 following the implementation of the because 64 following the implementation of the

recommendations of the Report of the Committee on recommendations of the Report of the Committee on

Administrative Reorganization and Reform that preceded it.Administrative Reorganization and Reform that preceded it.

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The preceding development brought about a radical change in The preceding development brought about a radical change in

the structure and functions of the earlier Thana Councils the structure and functions of the earlier Thana Councils

through the introduction of Upazila system.through the introduction of Upazila system.

In all there were 460 Upazilas. The number now is believed to be In all there were 460 Upazilas. The number now is believed to be

481. The new system envisaged an elected Chairman with wide 481. The new system envisaged an elected Chairman with wide

administrative powers.administrative powers.

A significant feature of the system was that the Chairman was A significant feature of the system was that the Chairman was

vested with the authority of superintendence and control of all vested with the authority of superintendence and control of all

Upazila level officers except the police and the judicial officers. Upazila level officers except the police and the judicial officers.

Judiciary was decentralised and in each Upazila an assistant Judiciary was decentralised and in each Upazila an assistant

judge was appointed.judge was appointed.

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Another significant development during the post 1982 period was Another significant development during the post 1982 period was the division of subjects between the Upazila and the central the division of subjects between the Upazila and the central government.government.

The regulatory and major development functions retained by the The regulatory and major development functions retained by the government are:government are:

Illustrative list of regulatory and major development Illustrative list of regulatory and major development functions retained by the Government.functions retained by the Government.

1 Civil and Criminal judiciary.1 Civil and Criminal judiciary.

2 Administration and Management of central revenue like Income 2 Administration and Management of central revenue like Income

Tax, Customs and Excise, Land Revenue, Land Tax, etc.Tax, Customs and Excise, Land Revenue, Land Tax, etc.

3 Maintenance of Law and Order.3 Maintenance of Law and Order.

4 Registration.4 Registration.

5 Maintenance of essential supplies including food.5 Maintenance of essential supplies including food.

6 Generation and distribution of electric power.6 Generation and distribution of electric power.

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77 Irrigation schemes involving more than one District.Irrigation schemes involving more than one District.

88 Technical education and education above Primary level viz. Technical education and education above Primary level viz. agricultural, engineering, medical etc. education, High School, agricultural, engineering, medical etc. education, High School, College and University education.College and University education.

99 Modernised District Hospitals and Hospitals attached to the Medical Modernised District Hospitals and Hospitals attached to the Medical Colleges.Colleges.

1010 Research organizations like Council of Scientific and Industrial Research organizations like Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (C.S.I.R) laboratories.Research (C.S.I.R) laboratories.

1111 Large scale seed multiplication and dairy farms.Large scale seed multiplication and dairy farms.

1212 Large scale industries.Large scale industries.

1313 Inter district and Inter-thana means of communication viz., posts, Inter district and Inter-thana means of communication viz., posts, telegraph, telephones, railways, mechanically propelled road and telegraph, telephones, railways, mechanically propelled road and inland water transport, highways, Civil aviation, ports and shipping.inland water transport, highways, Civil aviation, ports and shipping.

1414 Flood control and development of water resources.Flood control and development of water resources.

1515 Marine fishing.Marine fishing.

1616 Mining and mineral development.Mining and mineral development.

1717 Compilation of national statistics.Compilation of national statistics.

Despite stiff opposition to the Upazila system, it continued to operate until 1991. In 1991, Despite stiff opposition to the Upazila system, it continued to operate until 1991. In 1991, the country opted for parliamentary democracy. Elections were held. The ruling party the country opted for parliamentary democracy. Elections were held. The ruling party decided to abolish the Upazila concept and practice. Instead, it re-established Thana decided to abolish the Upazila concept and practice. Instead, it re-established Thana Development Committee with the Upazila Nirbahi Office (UNO) as Chairman. Development Committee with the Upazila Nirbahi Office (UNO) as Chairman.

In 2007, the non-party Caretaker Government constituted a committee for reform of local In 2007, the non-party Caretaker Government constituted a committee for reform of local government system. Following the recommendation of the committee, Upazila system was government system. Following the recommendation of the committee, Upazila system was revived consistent with the constitutional provisions on local administration; the revived consistent with the constitutional provisions on local administration; the committee also recommended establishment of Upazila Parishad with elected persons. committee also recommended establishment of Upazila Parishad with elected persons. Elections to the Upazila were held in 2008.Elections to the Upazila were held in 2008.

In respect of urban local bodies, almost all divisional cities now have city corporations. In respect of urban local bodies, almost all divisional cities now have city corporations. Rest are municipalities numbering 310.Rest are municipalities numbering 310.

Municipalities are of three categories: Class I, II and III. This division is based mainly on Municipalities are of three categories: Class I, II and III. This division is based mainly on the taxation base. There are plans to convert bigger municipalities into City Corporations. the taxation base. There are plans to convert bigger municipalities into City Corporations. Thus Comilla and Narayanganj Municipalities became corporations very recently. Some Thus Comilla and Narayanganj Municipalities became corporations very recently. Some more are in the offing.more are in the offing.

Recent development in respect of Dhaka City Corporation is its bifurcation into two Recent development in respect of Dhaka City Corporation is its bifurcation into two corporations called South and North.corporations called South and North.

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A big gap now exists in respect of Zila Parishad. It still remains A big gap now exists in respect of Zila Parishad. It still remains

an unelected body although a law was enacted in 2000. It is an unelected body although a law was enacted in 2000. It is

called Local Government (Zila Parishad) Law.called Local Government (Zila Parishad) Law.

Under this law, the Parishad will consist of one chairman, 15 Under this law, the Parishad will consist of one chairman, 15

members and five reserved seats for women. All members will members and five reserved seats for women. All members will

be elected indirectly.be elected indirectly.

The Electoral College for the purpose will consist of Mayors, The Electoral College for the purpose will consist of Mayors,

ward commissioners, Chairmen of Union Parishads.ward commissioners, Chairmen of Union Parishads.

The law provides for appointment of administrators until a duly The law provides for appointment of administrators until a duly

elected parishad is in place. In a recent move, the government elected parishad is in place. In a recent move, the government

have appointed administrators in all Zila Parishads.have appointed administrators in all Zila Parishads.

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Thank you