Abstract The Upazila System is the Second tire of the local Govt. of Bangladesh.

This system is the successor of the previous sub-division which was introduced
by the ex military autocrat HM Erashad. The local government Ordinance 1982, pro
vided details on the structure and functions of the Upazila. The Upazila replace
d the oldest institution called Thana. It has been created as a local administra
tion under the decentralization program of the Government. Therefore, present st
udy aimed to analyze and to evaluate the local government system, the Upazila Sy
stem, its origin, development, composition, functions in old and recently promul
gated new format i.e. in local government Ordinance 1982 and Upazila Parishad Ac
t. 2009 (mainly 1982) format etc. Foreword Local government is very essential fo
r the development of country; local government means the decentralization of adm
inistrative powers into different local bodies. Bangladesh has experienced vario
us types of developmental models since the end of British Colonial rule, and als
o during the period of Pakistan (1947-1971). Since 1971 as an independent state
Bangladesh has established her own administrative system. The results of such de
velopment efforts have not been very encouraging, in spite of some evidence of g
rowth at certain brief stages, the curative effect has been rather depressing, o
verall economic condition has deteriorated, particularly distressing it’s the fact
that gaps between groups of people have widened. The second tire of rural local
government in Bangladesh is the Upazila Parishad. The system of Upazila Parisha
d came into the process of decentralization of administration. One of the most s
ignificant current policy initiatives in Bangladesh is the decentralization of a
dministration in order to ensure peoples participation in local administration p
articularly in the formation and implementation of development activities which
affect their lives. As the first step towards this process, the 460 of the count
ry have been upgraded in to Upazilas with functional and financial powers. The U
pazila system has been playing significant Role in ensuring public participation
in mass level, which is considered as the key of democracy. It can ensure the a
ccountability
and transparency of the government. In Bangladesh the rural development is obvio
usly possible through an effective, free and political interference free Upazila
System. It also ensures the decentralization of power.
Local Government Local Govt. is a term used in the decentralization of administr
ation of a country. Local governments are administrative offices that are smalle
r than a state. The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level,
which are referred to as the central government, national government, or (where
appropriate) federal government. Duane Lockard defines “local government as a pub
lic organization authorized to decide and administer a limited range of public p
olicies within a relatively small territory, which is a sub-division of a region
al or national government. It is at the bottom of a pyramid of government instit
utions, within the national government at the top and intermediate governments (
of states, regions, provinces) occupying the middle rung.” “Local Government is mean
t for management of local affairs by locally elected persons. If Government s of
ficers or their henchmen are brought to run the local bodies, there is no sense
in retaining them as Local Government Bodies." (Kudrat-E-Elahi Panir Vs. Banglad
esh 44DLR(AD)(1992). In modern nations, local governments usually have same powe
rs as national governments do. They usually have some power to raise taxes, thou
gh these may be limited by central legislation. In some countries local governme
nt is partly or wholly funded by subventions from central government taxation. C
ommon names for local government entities include state, province, region, depar
tment,
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county, prefecture, district, city, township, town, borough, parish, municipalit
y, shire and village. However all these names are often used informally in diffe
rent countries & local government is the legal part of central Government. Local
Government in Bangladesh In Bangladesh we can find types of local government bo
dies that are rural local government and Urban Local Government. In Rural Local
Government is divided into 4 tires that are Zila Parishad, Upazila Parishad, Uni
on Parishad and the Gram Parishad. And the Urban Local Government can be divided
into 2 tires, Pourashava (for smaller Municipalities) and City Corporation (for
four of the largest cities) are in order. After a series of evolution it get th
e present shape.
Rural Local Government 1. Zila (District) Parishads (64). 1. Thana/Upazila Paris
hads (460); 1. Union Parishads (4403); 2. Gram (Village) (40,000); Parishad,
Urban Local Government 1 City Corporations (6) . 1 Paurashavas (286) .
The Local Government structure in Bangladesh: The Upazila Parishad The Upazila R
eplaced the oldest institution in Bangladesh called the Thana. It was a nation-w
ide reform. The significant change in the rural government was the insertion of
the term “Upazila” replace the word “Thana”. Generally, an Upazila corresponds to a “Thana”
although in some places two Thanas have been united as one Upazila. Literally,
Upazila means Sub-Distrit. Our concerning topic is the Structure,
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Composition, Power & Functions of the Upazila Parishad. Now we shall discuss it
in accordance with the local government ordinance 1982, which was promulgated by
the ex-military ruler HM Ershad. Now in Bangladesh there have 482 Upazilas and
599 administrative thanas. Composition of Upazila Parishad. (Old format) A Paris
had shall consist of (a) A Chairman, (b) Representative members, (C) Three women
members (d) Official members (e) Chairman of the Upazila Central Co-operative A
ssociation within the Upazila and (f) One nominated member. Composition of Upazi
la Parishad- according to 1982 Ordinance. Note: Representative and nominated mem
bers are voting members within the Upazila Parishad, and Official members are no
n-voting members designed by the govt. among the officials of the Upazila. This
Figure indicated that Upazila Parishad consists of a chairman elected by all vot
ers within Upazila. All chairman of the Union Parishads; Paurashavas located wit
hin the Upazila; the Chairman of the Thana Central Cooperatives Association; thr
ee women nominated by Government ; and official members as designated by the gov
ernment among the official at the Upazila level are members of the Upazila Paris
had. The chairman of the Upazila Parishad is to be elected directly by the voter
s of entire Upazila on the basis of adult franchise. Until election of Chairman
of Upazila Parishad, the chief executive officer (UNO) of the parishad has been
authorized to act as chairman. Functions of ordinance. the Upazila Parishad Acco
rding to 1982
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1. All development activities at the Upazila leve; formulation of Upazila level
development plans and programs and implementation, monitoring and evaluation the
reof. 2. Preparation of Upazila Development plans on the basis of Union Developm
ent plans. 3. Giving assistance and encouragement to Union Parishads in their ac
tivities. 4. Promotion of health, family planning and Family Welfare. 5. Provisi
on for management of environment. 6. Training of Chairman, members and secretari
es of Union Parishads. 7. Implementation of 8. Government policies and programme
s within the Upazila. 9. Supervision, control and co-ordination of functions of
officers serving in the Upazila except Mnsifs, Trying Magistrates and officers e
ngaged in regulatory functions. 10.Promotion of socio-cultural activities. 11.Pr
omotion and encouragement of employment generating activities. 12.Such other fun
ctions as may be specified by the Government from time to time 13.Promotion and
extension of co-operative movement in the Upazila 14.Assistance to Zilla Parisha
d in development activities. 15.Planning and execution of all rural public works
programmed. 16.Promotion of agricultural activities for maximizing production.
17.Promotion of educational and vocational activities. 18.Promotion of livestock
fisheries and forest Composition of Upazila Parishad (New Format) A Upazila Par
ishad consists of a chairman, two vice-chairpersons (one of them a woman), chair
men of all union Parishads under the Upazila concerned, mayors of all municipali
ties, if there are any, and women members of the reserved seat. The chairman and
vice-chairpersons are going to be elected today. One-third of the total women m
embers from reserved seats of union parishad under an Upazila will be the
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Upazila parishad members. The women members of the reserved seat of the union pa
rishad will elect them. The Upazila parishad chairman and vice-chairpersons will
have to resign from their party posts if they hold any. The vice-chairpersons w
ill elect a two-member chairman panel within one month of the first meeting of t
he parishad. A vicechairperson from the panel will serve as the chairman if the
elected chairman fails to carry out their duty for absence, illness or any other
reason. Upon suggestions of the Local Government Commission, the government can
suspend any chairmen, vice-chairpersons and women members temporarily if their
work goes against the parishad’s interest or seems “unexpected” from administrative po
int of view. But, they will be allowed to give their statement before that
The Upazila Parishad Structure (New Format) Powers and Functions in New Format L
et we shall try to discuss the Power and functions of Upazila Parishad under New
Upazila Parishad Act. 2009. Executive Powers The chairman of the Upazila parish
ad will enforce executive power to implement the decisions taken by the parishad
. An Upazila parishad chairman’s duties include chairing and conducting parishad m
eetings, monitoring and controlling all officers and employees, meeting financia
l expenditure of certain limits fixed by the government and commission. The chai
rman will also prepare the annual confidential reports of all officers and emplo
yees of the parishad. The chairman will supervise all accounts of the parishad w
ith the join signature of the Upazila nirbahi officer (UNO). Functions The funct
ions of Upazila parishad include dealing with administrative and establishment i
ssues, ensuring law and order and services related
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to peoples’ welfare, and formulation and implementation of local economic and soci
al development planning. Preparing development planning for five-year terms or s
o, construction, repair and maintenance of linking road under the Upazila, initi
ating and implementing small irrigation projects, creation of jobs and initiatin
g programmes to reduce poverty are major duties of the parishad. Besides, the pa
rishad will regularly send report on the Upazila’s law and order to the district c
ommittees on law and order and other high authorities. The parishad will also pu
blish citizens’ charter accommodating the description, conditions and duration of
the service it would render to the people. Financial Resources of Upazila Every
Upazila parishad will have a fund. Government grants, income from local sources,
grants from other parishads or local authorities, loans granted by the governme
nt, money collected from taxes and fees, and incomes and benefits from schools,
hospitals, dispensaries, buildings and organisations run by the parishad will be
deposited in the fund. The government-fixed portions of income from local marke
ts, jal mahals and ferry ghats under the upazila will go to the fund. Taxes and
fees on cinemas, drama and jatra, fair, business and occupation will also go to
it. Every parishad will prepare its budget two months before the start of a fisc
al year and hang its copy for at least 15 days to inform people about it and rec
eive suggestion and comments from the people. After considering their suggestion
, the parishad will approve the budget 30 days before the start of a fiscal year
and send a copy to the deputy commissioner (DC). If a parishad fails to approve
its budget in time, the DC will prepare a list of income and expenditure, which
will be approved as the budget of that upazila for the year. The accounts of th
e parishad will be examined by an appointed auditor in a specific process. Upon
suggestion of the commission the government will formulate the audit related rul
es for inconsistency or irregularities of accounts, damage or waste of assets an
d other aspects. All
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members will be bound to give information to the auditor, who will inform the DC
if anybody defies. Officer and Employee A UNO will serve as the chief executive
officer of the upazila and the government will appoint one secretary to the par
ishad. The government can employ its officer or employee to the parishad for exe
cuting general or special duties on specific condition. Meetings of the Committe
es The upazila parishad will hold at least one meeting a month at its office. Fo
r executing its activities smoothly, the parishad will form at least nine standi
ng committees on different issues with the duration of maximum two and a half ye
ars within a month of the first meeting. At least one-third elected women member
s from the reserved seats will be the presidents of these standing committees, e
ach consisting of five-seven members. If needed, the committees can appoint expe
rts but they will not have any right to franchise. The committees will be on law
and order; health and family planning; agriculture, fisheries, livestock, irrig
ation and environment; education; social welfare, women and children development
; sports, culture and youth development; communication and infrastructural devel
opment; establishment, finance and accounts and monitoring and evaluation. The p
arishad can also form additional standing committees if needed. Abolition and Re
-Election Upon suggestions from the commission the government can abolish a pari
shad through a gazette notification for several reasons. The parishad will be ab
olished if most members resign or become ineligible or misuse power of the paris
had. The parishad will be formed again through election within 180 days from the
date the posts of chairman, vice-chairpersons and other members fall vacant. Th
e posts will be regarded vacant from the day of the gazette notification. Parish
ad
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officials will be given chance to explain themselves before a parishad is abolis
hed. Term of office of the Chairman, etc. 1. A Chairman shall hold office for a
term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office. Provided th
at, notwithstanding the expiration of his term, a Chairman shall continue to hol
d office until it is successor enter upon his office. 2. A woman member or a nom
inated member shall hold office for a term of five years from the date of his no
mination. Qualifications for election of Chairman – 1. A person shall, subject to
the provisions of sub-section 2. Be qualified to be elected as a chairman of a p
arishad ifa. S/He is a citizen of Bangladesh. b. S/He has attained the age of tw
enty five years; and c. His/her name appears on the electoral roll for the Upazi
la. Disqualifications for election of Chairman – a. S/He is declared by a competen
t court to e of unsound mind: b. S/He is an undercharged insolvent; c. S/He has
ceased to be a citizen of Bangladesh or has acquired the citizenship of, or affi
rmed or acknowledged allegiance to a foreign state. d. S/He has been, on convict
ion for any criminal offence, involving moral turpitude, sentenced to imprisonme
nt for a term of not less than two years, unless a period of five years has elap
sed since his release. e. S/He holds any full-time office of profit in the servi
ce-of the Republic or of the Parishad concerned or any other local authority; or
f. S/He is a party to a contract for weak to be done for, or goods to be suppli
ed to. The Parishad concerned, or has otherwise any
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pecuniary interest in its affairs, or is a dealer in essential commodities appoi
nted by the Government. Chairman not to hold any office in a Parishad or Pourash
ava- A person elected as Chairman shall, on the date on which he enters upon his
office, cease to hold any other office in any Union Parishad or Pourashava.
Electoral roll – 1. There shall be an electoral toll-for every Upazila for the ele
ction of Chairman lo by prepared-by the Election Commission. 2. A person shall b
e entitled to be enrolled on the electoral roll of the Upazila if s/he— a. is a ci
tizen of Bangladesh ; b. is not less than eighteen years of age . c. does not st
and declared by a competent court to be of unsound mind; and d. is or is deemed
to be resident of that Upazila. Right to vote: Every the time being entered in t
he shall be entitled to vote at an Upazila. Oath of office. Every Chairman shall
, before he enters upon his office, make and subscribe in the presence of such o
fficer as the Government may specify in this behalf, an oath or affirmation Resi
gnation of Chairman, etc. 1. A Chairman may resign his of ice by notice in writi
ng under his hand addressed-to the Government. 2. A woman member or a nominated
rambler may resign-his office by notice in writing under his hand addressed to t
he Chairman.
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3. A resign9tion under this section shall become effective and the office concer
ned shall become vacant, on the-date on which the notice of resignation received
by the addressee. Removal of Chairman, etc A Chairman shall-render himself liab
le to removal from his office if a. He becomes physically or mentally incapacita
ted from performing his functions; or b. He is guilty of grave misconduct or is
responsible for any (QSS or misapplication of money or property of the Parishad.
Explanation. a. In this sub-section, "misconduct" means-misuse of power, corrup
tion, jobbery, favoritism, nepotism and willful maladministration and includes a
ny attempt at or abatement of, such misconduct. b. A Chairman shall not be remov
ed from his office any ground mentioned in sub-section unless at a special meeti
ng of the Parishad called for the purpose in the prescribed manner, a resolution
to the effect that he is liable to be so removed is passed by the votes of not
less than four-fifths cf the total number of representative members of the Paris
had and unless the resolution is approved by the Government: Provided that, no s
uch resolution shall be passed unless the Chairman has been given a reasonable o
pportunely of showing cause against the resolution proposed to be passed with re
spect to him. c. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of th
is Ordinance a person who has been removed from the office of Chairman under sub
-section (2) shall not be eligible for election lo office for the term following
his removal. d. The Government may, after such enquiry as may be considered nec
essary, remove any woman member or nominated member of a Parishad from office en
any ground mentioned in sub section (1)9 Vacation of office of the Chairman, et
c The office of Chairman shall became vacant if a. He becomes disqualified for b
eing such chairman under section 6;
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b. He fails to make the oath referred to in section 13 within the
period of thirty days after the date of publication of his name in the official
Gazette, unless the Government, for good cause shown, extends the period. c. He
resigns his office under section 12; d. He is removed from his office under sect
ion 13; or e. He dies, The office of a member, other than an official member, sh
all become vacant if a. he resigns his office under section 12 ; b. he is remove
d from his office under section 13; or c. he ceases to be a resident of the Upaz
ila ; or d. He dies. Leave of absence of Chairman, etc A Parishad may grant leav
e of absence to Its Chairman for any period not exceeding thirty days in any one
year and further leave, if necessary, may by granted by the Government. Acting
Chairman. At any time when the office at Chairman falls vacant or when the Chair
man is unable to discharge the functions of his office on account of absence, il
lness or any other cause, a representative member nominated by the Government sh
all act as Chairman until a new Chairman elected to fill such vacancy enters upo
n his office or until the Chairman resumes the functions of his office, as the c
ase may be.
Notification of resignation, etc. A resignation, removal or vacation of office o
f a Chairman shall be notified in the official Gazette by the Government. Time f
or holding election. a. In the case of a vacancy in the office of Chairman occur
ring by reason of the expiration of his term of office, an election to fill the
vacancy shall be held within the period of ninety day prior to the date of expir
ation of the term.
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b. In the case of a vacancy in the office of Chairman occurring by
reason of death, resignation or removal of the Chairman, an election to till vac
ancy shall be held within nimiety days after the occurrence of the vacancy. Cond
uct of election. 1. All elections of Chairman shall be organized, held and condu
cted by the Election Commission in accordance with the rules, and such rules tra
y provide for all or any of the following matters, namely :— a. the appointment of
returning officers, assistant returning officers, presiding officer and polling
officers for the conduct of election, and powers and duties of such officers; b
. the nomination of candidates, objections to nominations and scrutiny of nomina
tion. c. the deposits to be made by candidates and the circumstances under which
men deposits may be refunded to candidates or forfeited to the Parishad ; d. th
e withdrawal of candidature ; e. the appointment of agents of candidates ; f. th
e procedure in contested and uncontested elections; g. the date. time and place
for poll and other matters relating to the conduct of elections; h. the manner i
n which votes are to be given i. the scrutiny and counting of votes, the decla
ration of the result and the procedure to be followed In case of equality of vot
es; j. the custody and disposal of ballot papers and other papers relating to el
ections; k. the circumstances under which polls may be suspended and fresh polls
may be held ; l. the election expenses; m. the corrupt or illegal practices and
other election offences and penalties therefore; and n. any other matter connec
ted with or Incidental to election.
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2. The name of the person enlaced as Chairman shall, as soon as may be after the
election, be published in the official Gazette by the Election Commission. Fina
l interpretation Local government as a political institution to ensure public pa
rticipation in development activities is yet to take proper shape in Bangladesh.
In Bangladesh there have been six major attempts to reform local government und
er six different governments. The objective of all, at least at the level of rhe
toric, was to introduce participatory and accountable local governance through d
ecentralization of functions and powers to locally elected institutions. All the
se governments also recognized the relevance of the role of decentralized local
institutions in planning and implementing needbased development projects for pov
erty alleviation and reduction of socio-economic inequality. The Upazila Parisha
d is one of the efforts of this Process.
Footnotes and References
1. Kh.Nadira Parveen, Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities1993. 1&2, P-97
2.
http://www.unescap.org/huset/lgstudy/country/bangladesh/bangl adesh.html#descrip
t http://www.news.org.bd/?p=14012
3.
4. Ministry of Local Govt. rural development and cooparatives. Local Govt. Secti
on “Notification No-S-8/E. 3/83/41” Dhaka January1983 5. Siddiqi Kamal: Local Govern
ment in Bangladesh
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6. Local Government of Bangladesh: An Overview
7. Pranab Kumar Panday Local Government in Bangladesh,
South Asian Journal: 09 Lower Ground, Eden Heights, Jail Road, Lahore, Pakistan,
October-December Issue-2006 http://www.wikipedia.org/laocalgovt./lgstudy/countr
y/bangladesh/ bangladesh.html#descript
8.
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