Strengthening Local Governance : Defining the Role of Upazila and Union Parishads

This note focuses on the rural sector. It takes as its starting point the premise that the Upazila and the Union Parishads can jointly form the backbone of a system of rural local governments in Bangladesh. The key interventions required are to strengthen the Upazila as an independent tier of government - especially relative to national parliament - and to clarify the relationship between the Upazilas and Union Parishads so that the two can jointly work as one system of local government. In this context, holding elections at Upazila level will be an important step to take, but this action alone will not result in a sustainable or effective system of local governance. Upazilas require clarity on their functions and their relations to Union Parishads, adequate untied resources for which they can be held accountable and appropriate checks and balances on their powers. There is a broad social consensus for strengthening local governance in Bangladesh. This is largely expressed as support for strengthening the role of Upazila and Union Parishads, through elections and greater political decentralization.

Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	World Bank
Language:	English en_US
Published:	Washington, DC 2012-01
Subjects:	ABUSES, ACCOUNTABILITY, ACCOUNTING, ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY, ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITIES, ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY, APPROPRIATE CHECKS, ASSETS, AUTHORITY, BASIC SERVICES, BEST PRACTICE, BUDGET HEARINGS, BUREAUCRACY, CENTRAL AGENCIES, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS, CITIZEN, CITIZEN ACCESS, CITIZEN NEEDS, CITIZEN OVERSIGHT, CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, CITIZENS, CIVIL SOCIETY, COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT, CONSENSUS, CONSTITUENCIES, CONSTITUENCY, CONSTITUENTS, COUNCILS, DECISION-MAKING, DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE, DEMOCRATIC SYSTEMS, DISCLOSURE, DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS, DISCRETION, DISCRETIONARY POWERS, DISTRICTS, DIVISION OF POWERS, ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, ELECTION, ELECTION COMMISSION, ELECTIONS, ELECTORAL COMPETITION, EXECUTION, EXPENDITURE, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL RESOURCES, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, FISCAL RESOURCES, GOOD GOVERNANCE, GOVERNMENT LEVEL, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES, GOVERNMENT POLICY, GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, GOVERNMENT REFORM, GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES, GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS, INITIATIVE, INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, INTERGOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM, LACK OF CLARITY, LAWS, LEADERSHIP, LEGAL AUTHORITY, LEGAL FRAMEWORK, LEGISLATION, LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS, LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY, LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENT, LEGISLATURE, LEGISLATURES, LEGITIMACY, LOCAL AUTONOMY, LOCAL BODIES, LOCAL ELECTIONS, LOCAL GOVERNANCE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, LOCAL LEVELS, LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES, LOCAL TAX, LOCAL TAXES, MONITORING TOOLS, MP, MUNICIPALITY, NATIONAL BUDGET, NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, NATIONAL GOVERNANCE, NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, NATIONAL LEVEL, NATIONAL PARLIAMENT, PARLIAMENTARIANS, PARLIAMENTS, PARTY MEMBERS, POLICY DEVELOPMENT, POLICY ISSUES, POLICY MAKERS, POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY, POLITICAL AUTHORITY, POLITICAL INTERFERENCE, POLITICAL PARTIES, POLITICAL SYSTEM, PROCUREMENT, PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, PUBLIC GOODS, PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC INTEREST, PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION, REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, REPRESENTATIVES, REVENUE COLLECTION, SERVICE DELIVERY, SERVICE PROVIDERS, STANDING COMMITTEES, STATE BUDGET, STATE GOVERNMENTS, TAX BASE, TAX SYSTEM,
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/01/16259482/strengthening-local-governance-defining-role-upazila-union-parishads https://hdl.handle.net/10986/12400
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