As part of a study, a conversation was held with local people in Bhabanipur about the governance in their area and how involved they are in the process. A few said they don’t even attend public meetings called by ward councillors or government representatives. “What’s the point of going to these ward shabha meetings? They [government representatives] have already made their decisions on the agendas they’re supposed to discuss with the public,” says a tea shop owner.
His frustration reflects a growing disconnect between citizens and local governance institutions, particularly union parishads (UPs), Bangladesh's lowest tier of local government.
While UPs were designed to facilitate community participation and service delivery, recent transformations suggest that these institutions may not be as inclusive. Digitalization, shifting power dynamics, and the evolving role of UP representatives have reshaped local governance, but have they truly empowered rural citizens?
Over the past decade, Bangladesh has undertaken multiple reforms to modernize its local governance system, particularly through digitalization. This initiative aimed to streamline service delivery, increase transparency, and reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies in providing basic services to rural citizens.
UPs now manage birth registration, land record documentation, and social safety net programs through digital platforms. However, many rural citizens struggle to utilize this digital landscape.
Digitalization of UP services was meant to make service delivery faster and more transparent. Yet, the ongoing study on “Changing Village” by the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) reveals that progress has been uneven.
The study exposes critical gaps in accessibility, digital literacy, and governance effectiveness. According to field findings, the requirement of English-language birth certificates for newborns and QR authentication for inheritance documents has excluded rural residents who lack digital literacy or internet access.
Another villager expressed his frustration: “Earlier, I could get my child’s birth certificate with just a vaccination card. Now, I have to travel to the district town because I don’t understand these online processes.”
This shift raises pressing concerns about the push for digital governance, leaving behind the people it is supposed to empower. In Bhabanipur, residents interviewed for the study reported difficulties using digital service platforms due to a lack of support from local officials.
While digitalization across sectors is inevitable, without adequate training and infrastructural support, it risks increasing inequality rather than resolving it.
In Bhabanipur, only 11 out of 345 widow allowance applications were approved in the last fiscal year. While limited government budgets play a role, the selection process remains non-transparent. In some cases, lottery systems were used to determine beneficiaries, raising questions about fairness and transparency.
Furthermore, even though it’s promising, the push for digital tracking systems in welfare distribution also presents risks. Elderly citizens, many of whom lack access to smartphones or digital IDs, are often the most vulnerable.
A 72-year-old widow shared how she had to rely on her son to apply for the online application, only to be told that she was not selected without a clear explanation. The reliance on technologycould inadvertently exclude them from receiving the support they desperately need.
Another major transformation is the rise of village courts, which offer a formalized alternative to traditional dispute resolution. The idea was to provide faster, more accessible justice for communities in rural areas.
However, field research suggests that these courts remain underutilized due to inadequate infrastructure and a lack of trained personnel. Another resident of Bhabanipur said: “We went to the village court for a land dispute, but the session kept getting postponed because the officer was unavailable. In the end, we had to settle it in shalish (informally) with local elders.”
Although many cases were filed, due to procedural delays and lack of awareness among villagers, only a few were solved. If village courts are not functioning effectively, they risk becoming another layer of bureaucracy rather than a genuine solution for justice at the grassroots level. A potential policy intervention could include mandatory training for local officials and public awareness campaigns to encourage the use of these courts.
There has also been a shift in the profile of UP representatives. Where once traditional elites dominated, there is now an increasing presence of younger, more educated candidates who have party affiliations. The study finds that while these new leaders bring fresh perspectives, they also tend to prioritize large-scale projects over grassroots community concerns.
It indicates that while local governance is becoming more professionalized, it is also becoming less inclusive in addressing citizen needs. Moreover, the cost of running for UP elections has risen dramatically. One former UP member said: “You need money and connections to even think about running. People like me don’t stand a chance anymore.”
These rising costs suggest that access to political office is becoming increasingly restricted to those with financial resources, reinforcing existing power structures rather than challenging them.
One of the most concerning findings from the BIGD study is the disconnect between citizens and local governance mechanisms. Ward meetings and open budget sessions exist to encourage citizen participation, but turnout remains low.
In some areas, villagers were unaware that these forums even existed. UPs often lack effective outreach strategies, relying on outdated methods like notice board announcements rather than utilizing local communication methods or social media platforms.
Another factor is the perception that citizen voices do not matter. If UPs are to be truly democratic institutions, they must bridge this gap and actively involve citizens in decision-making processes.
One possible solution could be the integration of mobile-based notifications to inform citizens about upcoming meetings and budget discussions. The government must also ensure that transparency mechanisms, such as publicly accessible UP budgets, are genuinely implemented rather than being mere formalities.
Instead of focusing solely on digital solutions, a more inclusive approach is needed that incorporates offline alternative solutions and prioritizes digital literacy training for rural people. Similarly, strengthening village courts, ensuring equitable social welfare distribution, and making political participation accessible are all essential steps toward more effective local governance.
Otherwise, Bangladesh risks creating a two-tiered system where urban citizens benefit from modernized governance while rural populations remain trapped in bureaucratic inefficiency. The BIGD study provides valuable insights, but the real challenge is turning these findings into policy actions.
Moving forward, policy-makers can engage directly with rural communities to reflect local realities rather than imposing top-down initiatives. The success of local governance reforms will ultimately depend on how policy changes empower citizens to replicate existing inequalities.
Aishwarya Sanjukta Roy Proma is research associate at the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development at BRAC University. She can be reached at [email protected].
