Urban Governance in

Bangladesh
Problems and Prescription for Reforms
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Introduction

Overpopulation, increasing violence, massive

corruption, political intolerance, rising unemployment,
huge debt, declining education standards at all levels,
inadequate health facilities and deforestation have
created an atmosphere where nothing seems to work.
The government is unable to perform to achieve
results; the parliaments is ineffective; and civil society
elements are divided and sometimes directly act on
behalf of political parties.
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The Urban Context

The urban population grew almost 9 times during 1961-

1991.
It is estimated that now out of countrys population of
130 million the urban population is 26 million (World
bank 2002).
Urbanization is increasing by 5 to 6 percent annually.
By 2025, 50% population will live in urban areas.
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Symptoms of Poor
Governance
Criminalization of Representative Bodies
Questioning the Nature of Representation
Retention of Excessive power by the Central
Government
Lack of Opportunities fro Active Participation
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Criminalization of Representative
Bodies

Many elected ward commissioner of four city

corporations have criminal records.
The Election Commission in the recent past failed to
debar known criminals from contesting the local level
elections due to lack of support from ruling party and
loopholes in existing electoral laws.
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Questioning the Nature of
Representation

It is becoming increasingly clear that individuals with

inappropriate background are getting elected" to
urban bodies.
Muscle and black money play a critical role in securing
nomination and winning elections.
Most urban dwellers coming from different strata of
society are not in a position to meet with and ventilate
their grievances to their representatives.
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Lack of Opportunities fro Active
Participation

Municipal bodies do not have mechanisms or forums

through which urban residents can actively participate
in the decision making process.
The constituents can rarely provide feedback to the
decision making process of urban elected bodies.
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The State of Service Delivery in Urban
Area

A sample survey carried out recently in four metropolitan cities. i.e. Dhaka,
Chittagong, Khulna, and Rajshahi to assess users satisfaction found:
Electricity: Less than 12 percent household are satisfied
Quality of Drinking Water: Less than 11 percent household are
satisfied
Quality of Sanitation Services: Less than 17 percent household are
satisfied
Police: Less than 2 percent household are satisfied
Health Care: Less than 18 percent household are satisfied
Education System: Less than 28 percent household are satisfied
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Root Causes

Unwillingness to Serve the People

Total Lack of Coordination
Developmental Works Done without Following Proper
Procedures
Unwillingness to Tax Adequately
Employing Lowly Qualified Individuals
No Systematic Regular Training
Massive Corruption Goes Unpunished
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Reform Measure

Changing Election Laws

Massive Institutional Restructuring
Improved Service delivery
Enhancing Resource Mobilization
Institution of Anti-Corruption Mechanisms
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Reference:

Khan, M. M. (2009). From Government to Governance:

Expanding the Horizon of Pubic Administration to Public
Management (pp.191-202). Dhaka: The University Press
Limited