Here u can know the urban local government in Bangladesh

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Seminar Paper
on
Evolution of Urban Local Government In Bangladesh: A Review
Submitted To:Chowdhury Abdullah Al Hossienie
Assistant Professor,
Department Of Public Administration,
Sust,Sylhet
Submitted By:
Name Reg.
Jui Das 2013237062
Farhin Faruque 2013237041
S.M Arif 2013237032
Iftekhar Ahmed Mazumder Robin 2012237045
Ruma Begum 2013237052
AurpanBarua 2013237018
Ebadur Rahman 2013237072
Mokbul Hosen Chowdhury 2013237052
Submitted Date: 17.04.16
Shahjalal University of Science and Technology,Sylhet

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Evaluation of Urban Local Government in Bangladesh: A review
1. Introduction
Local government is the generic term used to describe transferring power from central
government to local authorities. Local government system is meant for management of local
affairs by locally elected persons. Local government can be divided in two types one is urban
local government another one is rural local government.
Urbanization is an important phenomenon of Twenty First century. From an overwhelmingly
rural, the world has fast transformed itself into an urban society. The Evolution of urban local
government means reached in a desired position through different stages which change the whole
structure of it. Present structure of Bangladeshi urban local governmental institution have not
come overnight, actually it had a long tradition. It is said that the formal structure of urban local
government institution constituted by the British. Although it was originated in Mughal regime.
The structure of those institutions change day by day. After the British rule the Pakistan period
was started but there was not major change until 1959.then a major change was occurred when
the basic democracy was introduced. After libration of Bangladesh there is a considerable change
in Ershad regime. Then Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina came to the power through fair election
and bring many changes in the urban local government system.
2. Broad objective
a) Make an evolutional review from Ancient to present situation
b) To make a scenario of existing urban local government system in Bangladesh
c) To know its function, finance and personnel system
d) To know the contribution of political leaders in our country to change the urban local
government system.
3. Rationality
The rationality of the study is Leadership capability grows up as a student of public
administration and we should know about the urban local government to run administration
effectively, at present the trend of urbanization is highly noticeable, so it is needed to know the
origin of urban structure for proper urbanization.
4. Methodology
- Desk Research
-Secondary source of information like Books, Internet, Journals etc.

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4. Mughal Period
Historians think the beginning of medieval period with the establishment of Turkho-Afghan rule
in Bengal from the 13th century. Many believed where others disputed that administration of
villages in medieval times was left to the PANCHAYETs.Each village had its own council or
panchayet. It appointed or elected its own headman who served as a link between the village and
the central government. The headman collected revenue from the cultivators and forwarded the
same to the treasury. He has to answer for delays in revenue collection. A Patwari or village
accountant working under the supervision of the headman used to keep records of crops and
revenue. The Panchayet were generally entrusted with the task of looking after education,
irrigation, religious practices and moral conduct of the villagers.
Their functions also include holding fairs and festivals, and maintenance of law and order. It is
not clear whether the administrative units during the medieval period were the same as those in
the ancient period. But it seems that revenue collection became more organized during the
Mughal period and Local administration was more geared up to that end. It is not clear whether
the administrative units during the medieval period were the same as those in the ancient period.
But it seems that revenue collection became more organized during the Mughal period and Local
administration was more geared up to that end, Siddiqi, 1995.
5. British Period
Evolution of Urban Local Government in British Period over the Indian subcontinent, almost two
hundred years of British rule (1757-1947).
Municipal Administration in this subcontinent originated in ancient times. Under the Act 1842
provided the first formal measure of municipal administration .As a result a town committee
could be set up by two-third of the citizens. Bengal Municipal Act 1864,1876 and 1884 town of
importance gain municipality. The earliest Municipality of Bangladesh were -
Nasirabad 1856 ,Dhaka and Chittagong 1864,Sherpur 1861,Brammanbaria 1868.The Bengal
Municipal Act of 1884 was passed during the viceroyalty of Lord Ripon,it produced a popular
representation in municipalities.
-Montagau-Chemsford Reform Under these reform 1917
-Bengal Municipal Act 1898
-Decentralization Commission Report 1909
-Government Of India Resolution 1918
The cause of municipal administration was advanced gradually.After the first world War new
requirements of administration led to structural changes and provincial council were enacted

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under the act of India 1919 where Secretary of the state and Government of India were excluded
totally any form of control. Thus municipality was liberated from rigid official patronage.
Simon Commission set up by India was look into affairs of Urban Local Government it focused
on efficiency of management. The Bengal Municipal Act of 1932 were produced code for
Municipal bodies. When Act of 1935 enacted which introduce federal structure and granting
autonomy to the provinces Act of 1919 was abolished.(Siddiqi,2005:146-47).
6. Pakistan Period
During the years from 1947 to 1958 the general structure and administration of urban local
government of East Pakistan was almost same as previous. Means that were same as the last day
of British rule. The universal adult franchise in the local bodies election only the new addition by
east Pakistan government. If we analysis the evolution of local government until 1947 it will be
easily noticed that in the British rule the members of local government were almost selected.
This way there were a little participation of general people. As at result the member and
chairman of local government not in representative character of people! So the new addition of
east Pakistan government make the member of local government more people oriented and
representative character. As we know British rule ended in 1947 and from that time to 1958 until
military rule calmed, the municipal government like other local government left behind. Suffered
from the conflicting demands of political expediency and administration efficiency! The major
change of all form of local government occurred when General Ayub Khan ( The chief marshal
law administrator and field marshal) celebrated his government first anniversary on 27th
October,1959!
He addressed the nation and announced the introduction of a new system of government called
"Basic Democracy" to bring the democracy to the door step of the people.
The basic democratize was initially a four tires government, they are:-
a)Union council ( Rural area), Town committee (Urban Area)
b) Thana council (East Pakistan),Tehsil council (West Pakistan)
c) District council
d) Division council
The basic democracies order of 1959 substantially altered the character of local government.
“with in the framework of the basic democracies came the municipal administration ordinance,
1960, replacing the Bengal Municipal Act of 1932"
In this new act the total number of municipal was 56. 28 out of 56 municipalities declared as
Town on the basis the number of population. To be a town require condition was 150000 or
below people. Every town had a town committee. Municipal committee were constituted in
remaining municipalities 28.after 1962 municipality was created called Noagan.then the number
of municipal committee became 29.

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Municipal committee consisted of elected members that are the chairman of union committee
with the municipality and equal number non-official appointed and official member including the
official of chairman. The total number of official and appointed member must not exceed than
the total number of elected member. The non official member of the committee is selected on the
basis of their capability to serve the people. “Of the total number of officials and appointed
member roughly 30% where officials 70% appointed"( Siddiqi,1995,p148).
There was also a vice chairman post. A vice chairman was elected by all members amongst the
elected members. The chairman is the executive head of the committee. The time duration of the
committee was 5 years. Out of 29 only 5 had full time chairman and rest were managed by part
time chairman additional deputy commissioner of the respected area. At the beginning time of
Basic democracy, The municipalities were decided in two classes.
a) First class
b) Second class
On the basis of population and income the municipalities were categorized. There were only four
municipal considered as the first class categories.
a)Dhaka
b) Narayongonj
c) Chittagong
d) Khulna
Under the east Pakistan local council services tools 1968 municipals were catorized in three
classes on the basis of population.
Type of municipal Income
1st class 5 millions
2nd class Fifty thousand to 3 millions
3rd class Below Fifty thousand
The municipal committee size varied on the basis of both population and income. population
rang between 20000 to 5,00,000. Accordingly the number of members varied from 6 to 60 and
income from taka 10000o to about 20 million.
Income 1 lakh to about 20 million. These committee performed civic development function. The
committee perform in 37 function education, Health, constructing road, bridge, man hall,
cleaning drained etc

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Town committees some arbitral and judicial powers in certain minor disputes. The committees
were also given also major political role that acting as an electoral college for the election of
president of the country and members of provincial and national assemble.
There was a word committee is constituted in every electoral unit.
In urban area word committees were required to organize activities for keeping their areas well
drained and clean, arranging adult literacy performing civic duties and providing family planning
service, providing parks and play grounds, planting trees collecting for the Bai-Tul-Mal fund and
when called upon by the collector , they assisted government officials in carrying out civil
defense function.
Income sources of municipal were taxes,rates,fees, etc
The urban areas constituting a municipality consisted of a number of union committee. UN this
committee there were a number of elected member. This was fixed by divisional commissioner.
The chairman was the head of chairman. He was an ex-officio member of the municipal
committee. The role of a union committee was not clear, there was no income source, could not
implement any development program. Totally depended on the sanction of municipality
committee, Siddiqi,2005.
7. Bangladesh Period
a) Sheikh Mujib Period (1972-1975)
Soon after the emergence of Bangladesh the President's order number 7 of 1972 was
promulgated and all the local government including rural and urban were dissolved. This
arrangement continued up to 1973.In 1973 Presidents order number 22 was promulgated but that
time the change of urban local government was not noticeable. After that the begging of 1995, a
major change in the political scenario of Bangladesh. Mujib announced certain programs to make
the new system a success and brought some change in urban local government, which was-the
administration arrangement of urban area was change and the bureaucratic system would be
replaced by a "people oriented" system. The Secretariat would go and red tape would be
abolished and more corporations would work directly under the Ministers [Siddiqui, 1994:63-
66].
b) Ziaur Rahman Period (1976-1981)
In 1976, a more significant change in the rural local government was brought through the Local
Government Ordinance but that time the urban local government was not charged.
c) Hussain Muhammad Ershad Period (1982-1991):
On 24 March,1982 H.M.Ershad the Chief of Army Staff became the Martial Law Administration
(CMLA) and that time he brought many changes in local government. In 26 October,1989 a

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Paura Commission was formed which headed by Minister of Local Government, rural
development and cooperatives and the commission submitted its final report in December
1990.The main objectives of the commission were to- a)identify reason why City Corporation or
Municipalities could not provide adequate service to urban people. b)and offer recommendation
to urban local government bodies to meet various increasing demand of the urban
people[Siddiqui,1994,87-88].By using this recommendation Ershad brought many change in
urban areas, such as; structural change, strong central-local relationship, different planning and
finance development, increasing municipal services for urban people, developed housing and
land policy system etc .Actually the total urban local government bodies was largely developed
during the Ershad period.
After that a new Local Government Commission was set up in 1991, regimes by Khaleda Zia
and in 1993 some changes were brought about in the urban local government structural and
composition.[Siddiqui,1994,95].
d) Khaleda Zia Period (1991-1996)-1st Term:
After nine years of reasonable effective implementation the Government of the Bangladesh
Nationalist Party (BNP),who came to power through a fair election in November,1991.There
brought some changes, that the voters of the wards would directly elect the Chairman/Mayor and
Commissioner of the Paurashava and the City Corporation as well as three women
Commissioners also be directly elected. Besides this there brought some bottom-up planning
process, increasing existing revenues through sound taxation management and setting up of a
permanent urban local government commission.[Siddiqui,1994]
e) Sheikh Hasina Period(1996-2001)-1stTerm:
When after another free and fair election in 1996 the Bangladesh Awami League came to power,
they constituted a Local Government Commission. The commission recommended a four-tier
government structure including Gram/Palli Parishad,Union Parishad,Thana Parishad and Zila
Parishad (Siddiqui,1995).Orginally,that time there came no change in urban local government.
f) Khaleda Zia Period (2001-2006)-2ndTerm:
After the national election held on 2001,the Four Party Alliance led by BNP emerged into the
power and initiated changes in the urban local government structure (Panday,Pranab and
Panday,Pradip,2008).The Bangladesh Census Commission recognized 522 urban areas in
1991(with minimum population of about 5000 or more)but only about 269 of the larger urban
areas among these have urban local governments. The six largest cities have City Corporation
status while the rest are known as Paurashava or Municipal (GOB,2009).
g) Caretaker Government Period (2007-2008):

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During this period different attempts were taken to strengthen the local government institutions.
The caretaker government of Dr. Fakruddin Ahmed organized free and fair election in different
areas as well as some City Corporation election was also held during their regime.
h) Sheikh Hasina Period (2009-to date)-2nd Term:
After threatened period in the political arena over the two years during Fakruddin Ahmed led
caretaker government, a free and fair national election was held. After emerged in the power the
government took some important measures to strengthen the urban local government institutions.
During this period, the City Corporations are elected bodies composed of Mayor and
representation from each ward. The City Corporation Mayor are directly elected by popular vote
of entire constituency. In addition, there are reserved seats for women in City Corporation and
Municipalities.
8. Existing Scenario of Local Government in Bangladesh
a)City Corporation in Mega Cities.
b) Paurashva in Small Towns.
Urban local governments City Corporation: 11
1.Chittagong City Corporation (CCC)
2.Comilla City Corporation (COCC)
3.Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC)
4.Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC)
5.Gazipur City Corporation (GCC)
6.Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC)
7.Barisal City Corporation (BCC)
8.Khulna City Corporation (KCC)
9.Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC)
10.Rangpur City Corporation (RACC)
11.Sylhet City Corporation (SCC)
Pourashavas (Municipalities): 326

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Currently pourashavas are classified into A, B, and C depending on the amount of revenue they
generate .(Fox, William F. and Balakrishna Menon, 2008).
Figure 1: Annual income of different categories of Pourashavas
Category: Annual income level
Class A Pourashavas : 6 million +
Class B Pourashavas : 2 million
Class C Pourashavas : 6 million + Less than 2.5 million
9. Paurashava/City
Corporation The Chairman/Mayor and commissioners of the Paurashava (Municipality) and the
City Corporation would be directly elected by the voters of the wards. Three women
Commissioners for each Paurashava would also be directly elected. The Local Government
(pourashava) Ordinance, 2008 provided for reservation of seats for women commissioners.
Under the City Corporations (Amendment) Act, 1993, the women commissioners are to
be elected by the commissioners of a city corporation.
10. Functions of urban local government
In general, the functions of the pourasbauas and city corporations are identical in nature. The
compulsory functions of these local government bodies are as follows
a)Compulsory Functions
(a) Construction and maintenance of roads, bridges and culverts;
(b) Removal, collection and disposal of refuse, wastes and culverts;
(c) Provision and maintenance of street lighting;
(d) Maintenance of public streets and provision for watering them;
(e) Provision and regulation of water supply;
(f) Construction and maintenance of shopping centers;
(g) Plantation of tress on road sides;
(h) Regulation of insanitary buildings;
(i) Prevention of infectious diseases and epidemics;
0) Registration of births, deaths and marriages;
(k) Provision and maintenance of slaughterhouse;
Q) Provision and maintenance of drainage;
(m) Control over erection and re-erection of buildings;
(n) Provision and maintenance of graveyards and cremation grounds;
(0) Control over traffic and public vehicles.

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Siddiqui.k, 2005:163-164, Rafia Khatun et al., id. at 145-46.
b) Optional Functions
There are some optional functions of these local government bodies. They are:
(a) Checking adulteration of food and drinks;
(b) Control over private markets and shopping centres;
(c) Maintenance of educational institutions and provision of stipends to
meritorious students;
(d) Provision of flood and famine relief;
(e) Provision and maintenance of parks, gardens and playgrounds;
(f) Establishment of welfare homes, orphanages and prevention of beggars;
(g) Establishment of public dispensaries, provision of public toilets;
(h) Establishment of veterinary hospitals, registration of cattle sale and
improvement of livestock;
(i) Celebration of national holidays;
(j) Reception of distinguished visitors/persons;
(k) Establishment of public libraries and reading rooms;
(I) Promotion of community development projects;
(m) Naming of roads and numbering of houses.
10. Urban Local government finance
In general, the sources of income of local government bodies in Bangladesh are: taxes, rates, fees
and charges levied by local body; rents and profits accruing from the properties of the local
body;Poushavas can levy taxes on 26 items.
For city corporations the revenue sources are same those of pourashavas.
11. Personnel system in the local government
The Pourashava and City Corporation have their own personnel system set up by central
government. The post upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) and the chief executive officer (CEO) is
established in the city corporations and a number of pourasvas. The CEO controls all other
officers and employees of his institution. He needs to assists the chairman or mayor in the
performance of activities of the paurashava or corporation.
12. Conclusion
Urban local government is obviously autonomous body. By analyzing the above discussion it is
clear to realize that the structure of present urban local government have not come overnight.
Through the many changes urban government have reached in present situation where it is
noticed that peoples participation in municipal and city corporation has increased in a large

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number which was not such a great number in British period. Mayor of the Municipality had to
maintain a good relation with government to obtain government grant.
References
[1]. Ahmad. Emajuddin, 1980. Bangladesh Lok Proshason (Bangladesh Public Administration).
Dhaka: Dhaka University.
2.Khan, M. M., 1997. Urban Local Governance in Bangladesh: an Overview. N. Islam and M.M
Khan, eds., Urban Governance in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Dhaka: Centre for Urban Studies.
3.Siddiqui. K., 2005. Local Government in Bangladesh. 3rd revised edition. Dhaka: University
Press Limited.
4.Siddiqui. K., 1995. Local Government in South Asia.Dhaka: University Press Limited.
5. Islam J H, Historical Background of the Municipalities of Bangladesh: An Analysis Associate
Professor, Departmentof PSS,Sust, Sylhet, Bangladesh.