Country Case Study on Intergovernmental Relations (Bangladesh)

1. Country Case Study on Intergovernmental Relations (Bangladesh) Presenter Swapan Kumar Sarkar Director General (Additional Secretary) Local Government Division Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Cooperatives

2. Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Cooperatives Local Government Division Rural Development & Cooperatives

3. Mission of Local Government Division Improving the standard of living of the people by strengthening local government systems and institutions and implement activities for social, economic and infrastructure development.

4. Wings of Local Government Division Local Government Division Centrally Run Organizations Local Government Engineering Deptt. Department of Public Health Engineering Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (4) National Institute of Local Government Local Government Institutes City Corporations (9) Municipalities (309+5) Zila Parishads (61+3) Upazila Parishad (481+4) Union Parishad (4501+33)

5. Prime Responsibilities and centrally run organization • Development of both urban & rural safe Water supply, Sanitation and Sewerage System - DPHE. • Development, maintenance and management of Upazila Roads, Union Roads and Village Roads including bridges and culverts as allocated by the Government from time to time - LGED . • Development, maintenance and management of Growth Centers and other markets connected to Upazila, Union and Village Roads - LGED. • Development, maintenance and management of Small Scale Water Resources schemes up to the limit as determined by the Government - LGED.

6. Prime Responsibilities and centrally run organization • Women Empowerment through employment- LGED and centrally run projects. • Poverty reduction - LGED and centrally run projects • Reduce arsenic contamination - DPHE • Establish disaster shelter centers - LGED • Ensure one stop service for people through Union/UpazilaParishad Complex - LGED • Income generating activities for distressed families – LGED and centrally run projects

7. Medium-Term Strategic Objectives and LGIs 1. Strengthening governance at the local level 2. Developing of rural roads and other rural infrastructure 3. Prioritizing participation of women in development activities 4. Providing safe water supply and sanitation facilities to all 5. Improving the living standard of slum dwellers and their environment 6. Ensuring compulsory registrations of births 7. Adopting appropriate expansion and equitable distribution policy of small scale water resources for the poor 8. Ensuring planned urbanization

8. Provisions of LGIs in the Constitution of Bangladesh CHAPTER III : LOCAL GOVERNMENT Article- 59. Local Government (1) Local Government in every administrative unit of the Republic shall be entrusted to bodies, composed of persons elected in accordance with law. (2) Everybody such as is referred to in clause (1) shall, subject to this Constitution and any other law, perform within the appropriate administrative unit such functions as shall be prescribed by Act of Parliament, which may include functions relating to- (a) Administration and the work of public officers; (b) the maintenance of public order; the preparation and implementation of plans relating to public services and economic development.

9. Provisions of LGIs in the Constitution of Bangladesh (contd.) Article-60. Powers of local government bodies For the purpose of giving full effect to the provisions of article 59 Parliament shall, by law, confer powers on the local government bodies referred to in that article, including power to impose taxes for local purposes, to prepare their budgets and to maintain funds.

10. LGD & LGI’s LGD Union Parishad City Corp. Upazila Parishad Munici- pality Zila Parishad DLG & DDLG play the linking role in the field level

11. Fiscal decentralization and LGI Autonomy

12. Supporting the LGIs: Fiscal Transfer 17580 Figures are in million BDT

13. Better learning and best practices (1) • Disclosure of Information through courtyard meeting and open budget meeting at UP level, scheme related information at the scheme sight and total receipt and expense related information and the UP notice board, fiscal transfer through national dailies; • Transparency in budgetary allocation and expenses at the Ward level and at open budget meeting; • Accountability through financial, assurance and social audits;

14. Better learning and best practices (2) • Regular preparation and maintenance of Accounts at the Union level; • People’s participation to prepare the UP planning (bottom up planning), scheme selection (ward level) and budget finalization through open budget meting; • People’s participation during the implementation of scheme and in the supervision; • Better service delivery to the people through UISC at each of the UP level; • Better grievance redressing at ward, UP, open budget and BGCC meetings;

15. Better learning and best practices (3) • Look into environmental, social side of the schemes at the Union Parishad Planning Committee and Block Grant Coordination Committee meeting; • Awareness raising through Union Facilitators Team for better and effective people’s participation; • Educate elected officials and help them practice through a process of capacity building and helping through Facilitators; • Encourage best practices through prize and punishment (limited).

16. Best practices and its impact • People’s ownership is established; • Better quality of small works is ensured (WB report-unpublished); • Rivalry and grouping at ward level is reduced; • People received better services from the UP level; • Level of people’s satisfaction has been increased; • Central government’s control is decreased but monitoring in increased through reports and returns, regular BGCC meeting and activation of monitoring system.

17. Steps for Upazila and Municipalities • Overall governance at the municipality level is in practice through better accounting and better people’s participation. It’s an UGIIP endeavour in 35 municipalities; • Steps have been taken to improve the overall governance and ensure elected officials power at the Upazila level as per provisions of the Constitution; • Innovative approach is under 14 Upazila in 7 Divisions to improve the overall working environment and inter-personal reltions.

18. Supporting the LGIs: Gender empowerment Provisions in the Acts • Seats (one third) are reserved for women in all the LGIs run by elected officials. • One third of the standing committees are headed by women. • One reserved seat of Vice Chairman at the Upazila level. • One women member is given cheque signing power.

19. Supporting the LGIs: Gender empowerment (contd) Provisions in the Projects • 30% budget is utilized by the women members (LIC). • Women members are eligible to be the head of 30% budgets (LGSP-LIC). • Women development forum is formed to look after gender interest. (LGSP). • Justice for marginalized people especially women at Village Court. (AVCP)

20. Supporting the LGIs: Elections LGIs arrange regular election for its LGIs. • Union Parishad: Last countrywide election was held during May-July 2011. • Municipality: Last countrywide election was held during January 2011. • Upazila Parishad: Last countrywide election was held during January 2009. • Zila Parishad: Administrators appointed on December 20, 2011. • City Corporations: Running by elected officials elected during different times (except two new)

21. Queries & Comments ?