Publication

This paper takes a retrospective look at the role of decentralized local governance in Bangladesh. More specifically, the paper’s author 1) discusses the basic types, structure and functions of local government, and 2) traces the genesis and historical development of decentralization practices within the country. Unfortunately, localism does have its pathologies, including a lack of support for local governance reforms; the "capturing" of local political spaces by central actors; the limited capacity of local government institutions; a lack of continuity in policy and practices; the domination of established bureaucracies; the gap between policy rhetoric and field reality, and more.