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Decentralization of Public Services and the Role of Local Government in Rural Development: Findings From Bangladesh

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  • Manila Khisa

Abstract

Over the past few decades, decentralizing public services and rendering administrative power to the local government institutions has become a popularly followed strategy to accelerate development in the rural areas. Since its independence till date, Bangladesh has taken quite a number of decentralization initiatives in the areas of health, education, agriculture and small industry promotional activities. This study has adopted secondary data analysis method to examine the degree of rural development made through decentralized public service delivery by the local government institutions of Bangladesh. The study suggests that, despite some improvement, the local governments in Bangladesh have not managed to bring significant changes at the rural level due to political supremacy, administrative and financial incapacity. The study concluded with identifying the changes that are necessary in the areas of resource accumulation and management, financial and administrative decision making system, political and bureaucratic capacity.

Suggested Citation

  • Manila Khisa, 2020. "Decentralization of Public Services and the Role of Local Government in Rural Development: Findings From Bangladesh," Journal of Public Administration and Governance, Macrothink Institute, vol. 10(1), pages 249261-2492, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:mth:jpag88:v:10:y:2020:i:1:p:249-261
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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