Transition of local government and rural development in Bangladesh: Revival of the Upazila Parishad

Abstract

After taking over the presidency of Bangladesh in 1982, former President Ershad immediately started decentralisation of administration by setting up Upazila Parishad at Thana level by promulgating the “Upazila parishad and upazila reorganisation ordinance 1982”. This democratic decision of the government was welcomed by the people then, and tremendous amount of development fund, 50 lakh taka per parishad on the average, were allocated to each Upazila Parishad. However, this people's expectation of Upazila Parishad system turned into hatred after a couple of years because of corruption, wastage and abuses. Khaleda Zia, taking the leadership of the country in 1991, took an immediate action to abolish this Upazila Parishad system replacing by Thana development coordination committee. The decentralisation process was thus aborted.

Having majority in the national parliament election in June 1996, Prime Minister Hasina's government now tries to revive the Upazila Parishad system again. The main thrust, Mohammad Siddiquer Rahman put it in the newspaper, should be given to the participatory development, transparency in the decision making process and accountability to the government and to the people.

Although Upazila Parishad may be due within 1998, the human resources to run participatory rural development at the Upazila level seem to be absolutely short. The knowledge and methodology to motivate people's self reliance should be invested with relevant officers at Upazila level as soon as possible.