EXPERTS have been pressing for reforming the local government institutions to reach basic service delivery to the citizens neutrally. In a conference, they recently stated that the partisan election system to the Union Parishad (UP) had made local leaders more accountable to political high-ups than the masses they serve. When people’s trust on the electoral system erodes, and partisan system engulfs the national integrity and tranquility, the reformation should be initiated from the bottom of the society by engaging people in decision making and implementation procedure.
The LGs in Bangladesh are working as the agency of the government not as a real government, an ambiguous situation indeed. The unattainable functions of LGs, like, there are 502 functions of a Deputy Commissioner, 110 functions of a Zila Parishad, 31 functions of an upazila parishad, 248 functions of a city corporation, and 172 functions of a municipality make the LGs overweight to move. The functions could not be implementable due to the sheer number of duties while budgetary allocations to the LGs are declining. Between 2013-14 and 2016-17, LGs budget decreased 31 per cent.
The symbol-based partisan election system has made havoc in the local integrity and political violence enters into the homestead in rural areas where people live years after years with harmony despite political differences. LGs in many countries function effectively as they have authority to take decisions and are given wider space of autonomy and functional scopes.
We know, the local government as an ancient institution. It is said to be good for national democracy, development and good governance. It can play many vital roles including welfare of local people and development of rural areas. Besides, there is a general expectation that it is liable to provide the best services to the people. In the modern age, many countries prefer to reform at the local level of the government. In particular, local government has been established in Bangladesh through reforms at different periods at different times.
