South Asian scholar and local government expert Professor Dr Mohammad Tarikul Islam was recently appointed a member of the Local Government Reform Commission to enhance its capacity and effectiveness. In an interview with Dhaka Tribune’s Anando Mostofa, Prof Tarikul Islam discusses his perspectives, plans, the current scenario, and the challenges facing Bangladesh’s local government.
DT: How important do you think reforms in local government are?
Dr Tarikul: Reforms to local government are crucial in Bangladesh because they make it easier to implement policies, make decisions based on need, distribute goods and services, lessen the administrative load on the state, teach citizens about democratic rights and practices, foster political leadership, and deal with issues like social safety nets, conflict resolution, local economic development, and more. Like most people, I believe that the move by the interim government to suspend the local government representatives has exposed rampant corruption, unethical behavior, nepotism, and politicization of the system governing the provision of services by local government authorities. Some other vital areas may require closer assessment followed by reform efforts, one of which is the local government sector. The country has a general consensus about the need to strengthen local government institutions to improve public representation in governance, service delivery, and accountability mechanisms.
How will the reform commission ensure transparency and accountability in local government operations?
We must understand that a reform commission cannot enforce anything but can only recommend reforms to the government to ensure transparency and accountability in local government operations through various means, such as: simplifying bureaucratic procedures to reduce delays in decision-making, service delivery, and resource allocation; delegating more authority and resources to local governments; using digitalization; providing capacity development aid and establishing ICT-based accountability; as well as establishing direct public engagement and accountability and enacting the Comprehensive Local Government Act.
What primary issues have come to light during the reforms commission discussion?
Professor Tofail Ahmed, who leads the reforms commission, is guiding us through several techniques for gathering the views and aspirations of people at all levels. Although there are numerous reform agendas pertaining to local government, the following are the most significant ones: i) the debate surrounding party-based elections for local bodies; ii) a reexamination of Article 25, which allows MPs to serve as advisors to the Upazila Parishad; iii) the Social Safety Net Program’s corruption and nepotism, iv) the yearly Development Program’s misuse v) lack of personnel, no hiring for open positions, and low-skilled staff; vi) noncompliance with the necessary stakeholder participation, which leads to misaligned project prioritization; vii) difficulties in creating accurate budget and accounts, and asset management; viii) discrimination in the distribution of public funds to local bodies; ix) a discrepancy between responsibilities and resources, which frustrates elected officials and dissatisfies the public; x) absence of human security, sustainable development, climate change, communal harmony, and social justice agendas within the functions of local government bodies; xi) presence of two systems such as parliamentary and presidential forms of governance in the local government system; xii) a poorly managed local information base that is inaccessible to the public; xiii) a lack of emphasis on environmental and climate change issues and inclusivity in local bodies; and xiiv) a lack of monitoring, evaluation, and auditing methods for finance and projects.
What lessons can be learned from other countries’ experiences with local government reform?
Obviously, when discussing local government changes in Bangladesh, we look to other countries’ experiences, including those of our neighboring countries, to learn from their successes and failures. While decentralization involving local governments has a long history in Bangladesh, the country, like many others, is still struggling to establish a strong local government capable of efficiently delivering services and ensuring the participation of actors in local decision-making and execution. The reform commission focuses on the structural, legal, functional, and financial aspects of Local Government Institutions (LGI), taking into account various changes in Asian and African countries at different times.
How can the reform commission ensure inclusivity in local development for those who are often left behind?
Equitable governance is the foundational cornerstone of inclusive development and the reform agenda has to address the needs of marginalized and underrepresented communities. In Bangladesh, women, ethnic minorities, the economically marginalized, persons with disabilities and the geographically remote are often “left behind.”
The reform commission can resolve inclusivity matters through policies that ensure that inclusivity is institutionalized. It could mean the compulsory inclusion of underrepresented people in local government councils, the use of gender-responsive budgeting and the inclusion of marginalized people’s voices in the development planning. At the same time, the commission also has to reinforce the transparency and the accountability mechanisms that can guarantee these programs are effectively implemented.
How can local governments adopt evidence-based decision-making?
Effective and accountable governance requires evidence-based decision-making. Using data and research in decision-making is more likely to lead to decisions that meet real community needs, use resources efficiently, and yield the results we seek. However, the ability of local governments in Bangladesh to adopt evidence-based approaches in their decision-making processes is often fraught with a complete lack of capacity, tools or frameworks to do so. By recommending the creation of local data hubs, the reform commission can play a critical role in formalizing evidence-based governance.
What do you think about the importance of enhancing public participation in local governance?
A healthy democracy and good governance depend on public participation. There is little public participation in local governance in Bangladesh due to a lack of awareness, an insufficient platform for participation, and a lack of political will. Given this, the reform commission needs to take initiatives that make participation viable and meaningful to the different participants.
Public hearings, participatory budgeting, and community forums can be institutionalized to allow direct citizen input into decision-making, ensuring inclusivity from diverse groups. Technology enables citizens to express opinions and give feedback on local projects. Education and awareness campaigns promote citizens’ rights and responsibilities.
What are your personal views of the impact of this reform on the people of Bangladesh?
I would like to bring forth implementable reforms as we count on the aspirations of important actors on the ground, including policymakers. Any functioning democracy, including Bangladesh’s, necessitates the existence of a self-governing local government structure that is also accountable to higher authorities and the general public. I hope we can implement a reform package that would empower and make local government transparent in a true sense, resulting in a paradigm shift.
