People’s participation in local government at the grassroots level in Bangladesh: An exploratory analysis

An efficiently managed local government is characterized by active citizen participation and competent leadership that effectively steers the institutions under its jurisdiction toward their primary goal. In its pursuit of establishing itself as the economic center of South Asia, Bangladesh is diligently striving to establish a robust and dynamic municipal government. A new paradigm centered on grassroots democracy is supplanting the traditional mode of public participation in governance via elected officials. This research aims to identify the many avenues via which individuals from underrepresented groups might engage in local government in Bangladesh. It also seeks to evaluate the extent to which each of these avenues contributes to the empowerment of these groups. To gain a thorough grasp of the dynamics of participation without resorting to direct primary data collection, this study utilizes secondary data to conduct a qualitative investigation into people's involvement in grassroots local government in Bangladesh, specifically in the context of the Union Parishad. The study reveals that while Bangladesh’s local government mechanisms promote public participation, engagement remains largely symbolic due to limited influence over decision-making. Despite efforts like elections and community meetings, active involvement is minimal. The results highlight a disconnect between the established public participation mechanisms and citizen engagement in Bangladesh. Despite efforts like local elections and public forums, participation remains largely symbolic due to a lack of perceived influence. This suggests a need for reforms to foster meaningful public involvement and strengthen local governance.