Reforms needed for effective local government
Bangladesh has not done what was required to render the local government system effective. The propensity to see the local government as a subordinate agency of the central government was established during Ayub’s regime, under the presidential government of the autocratic rule.
A new outline for a people-friendly structure was introduced in the constitution of the independent country. According to that outline, every administrative unit of the republic shall be entrusted with the responsibility of local government. There is also reference to ‘administration and the work of public officers, maintenance of public order, the preparation and implementation of plans relating to public services and economic development.’
But the constitution has not specified any remedial measures if the state does not fulfill these. It has bestowed the parliament with all rights in this regard. The constitutional article dealing with the issue starts with, ‘according to the law’. This means the local government election will take place as per the law introduced by the parliament. The parliament has introduced laws to hold the elections of the union parishad, upazila parishad and the zila parishad in various ways.
No integrated structure of local government has been established in the country. The organisational structure is different for different institutions. No inter-institutional relationship functions here. The specific tasks of each institution have not been specified. There is a long list of tasks for each tier, but none of the institutions possesses the funds and manpower required to execute these.
The funds and manpower lie with the concerned office of the field level administration. The local government and the local field administration are trapped in such contradictory laws.
The Awami League government is in power again. If they truly want a sustainably reformed local government system, they can start by forming a strong committee or commission. They can take guidance from this committee for the next course of action and have an impartial evaluation of the local government and field administration system. India has carried out reforms, taking into consideration the opinions of various committees including that of Balwant Rai and Ashok Mehta.
There are nine fundamental laws and over two hundred subordinate laws along with thousands of circulars here. This has resulted in sheer disorder. The ministry and government officials often fail to explain things. Things cannot continue in this manner. All the local institutions can run under one integrated law. The local government system should be freed from the tangle of law and circulars by reviewing them through a committee.
Funds are another crucial issue. From the city corporation to the union parishad--only one per cent of the national development budget is allocated for these bodies. Why? Why are the elections held with such huge expenditure, labour and time?
A government runs for five years and the local government polls take place in this long period. Election means unrest and the administration being preoccupied for long.
These elections take place in a single day with a single schedule in other countries. The elections are now being held with party symbols and many are opposing them. They are opposing this with due reason. If elections are being held under the party symbol, this can be done for the election of councilors or members too. The same persons would contest in the chairman or mayoral elections. Instead of the old local government system, local governments can run under a parliamentary system here. There are so many similar views on the issue. If the government really wants to establish a strong local government, it can take initiatives for reforms in a true sense.
*Tofail Ahmed is a local government expert. This piece, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Nusrat Nowrin.