LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Meaning of Local Government

Generally Local Government is an elective body established by law and vested with powers to
impose taxes, prepare its budget and invest labour for the management of local affairs and
development.

Features of Local Government

The essential features of a local government are: (a) it is established by law; (b) it is generally an
elective body composed of people’s representatives of an area or locality; (c) it has the power of
administration over a designated locality and the authority to manage the specified subjects; (d)
it has the power to raise substantial fund through taxation within its area; (e) it has the
authority to prepare its budget; and (f) it is ultimately accountable and subordinate to the
national government.

Merits of Local Government

1. Reduces the burden of central government: Local government reduces the duties and
functions of central government.
2. Relieves the burden of the Parliament members: It relieves the burden of the parliament
members where people expect much from them.
3. Decentralization of functions: It decentralises the functions of the State and thus reduces
bureaucratic control and red tapism.
4. Institutionalisation of democratic leadership: It creates a new and strong leadership from
the grass root level and institutionalises in that way.
5. Small size of central government: It keeps the size of the central government small and
effective.

Existing principal laws, both constitutional and statutory, concerning local government institutions in
Bangladesh
There are certain provisions in the Bangladesh Constitution that deal with local government. In
this regard the following articles are of vital importance:

Article 11: Article 11 is also an article related to Fundamental Principle of State Policy of the
government. It is said in Article 11 that State will be the democracy where the participation of
the people will be ensured through their elected representatives. That means Article 11 also
encourages for the establishment of local government for the direct participation of the people
in the local development through their elected representatives.

Article 59: Article 59 of the Bangladesh Constitution is directly concerned with the provisions of
local government and its compositions. It is said in Article 59 of the Constitution that local
government of an area will be comprised of elected representatives of the area concerned. Side
by side it speaks about the working plan of the local government. It is said that local
government will be engaged with the administrative works relating to public affairs in the
concerned locality.
Article 60: Article 60 of the Constitution says about the powers and functions of the local
government. It is said in Article 60 that local government shall have the power-
 to raise tax;
 to monitor funds; and
 to maintain budget in the local area for the development of the local areas.

In accordance with the Constitution, some laws concerning local government institutions
have been made by the president as well as parliament. These are -
For the City Corporations,
 Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009
For the Paurashavas,
 The Local Government (Paurashava) Ordinance, 2008

For Zila (District) Parishads,

 The Zila Parishad Act, 2000

For Upazila Parishads,

 The Local Government (Upazila Parishad) Ordinance, 2008

For Union Parishads,

 The Local Government (Union Parishads) Act, 2009.

Existing Classification of Local Government in Bangladesh

Rural Local Government Urban Local Government

Zila (District) Parishads City Corporations

Thana/Upazila Parishads Paurashavas

Unions Parishads

Administrative Control over Local Government

Natoinal government exercises administrative control over local government institutions in the
following ways:
Administrative Control:
a) Inspection;
b) Finances;
c) Removal;
d) Appointment;
e) Supervision.