UPAZILA APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION IN BANGLADESH : AN EXAMINATION OF ITS EFFICACY

This article examines the efficacy of the Upazila system, a major decentralization initiative in Bangladesh's development administration introduced in the 1980s. The study assesses the core objectives of the Upazila approach, which aimed to bring administration closer to the people and foster participatory local-level planning. The research evaluates the institutional framework of the Upazila Parishad, analyzing its structure, functions, and the dynamics of power between elected officials and government functionaries. The paper investigates the impact of this approach on the delivery of public services and the implementation of development projects in rural areas. It identifies both the successes of the system in empowering local communities and the significant challenges it faced, including resource constraints, political interference, and the lack of genuine autonomy. The analysis concludes by offering insights into the lessons learned from this major administrative reform and its implications for future decentralization efforts in Bangladesh.

The introduction of the Upazila system in the early 1980s represented one of the most significant administrative reforms in the history of Bangladesh, aimed at decentralizing power and accelerating rural development. This paper provides a critical examination of the efficacy of this approach. It begins by outlining the historical context and the theoretical underpinnings of the reform, which was designed to devolve substantial administrative and development functions to a newly empowered local government tier. The core of the study is an institutional analysis of the Upazila Parishad (council), evaluating its composition, the scope of its authority, and its relationship with central government agencies. The research explores the intended role of the elected Upazila Chairman as the chief executive and the challenges in establishing a harmonious working relationship with the centrally-appointed Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO). The paper assesses the performance of the Upazila system in key development sectors such as agriculture, education, and infrastructure, using case studies to illustrate both its potential and its pitfalls. It critically analyzes the persistent problems of inadequate financial resources, the dependency on central government grants, and the tendency for local politics to be dominated by national party rivalries. The findings suggest that while the Upazila approach was a laudable step towards participatory governance, its full potential was hampered by a combination of structural weaknesses and a lack of sustained political commitment to genuine decentralization.