DHAKA, Sept 25, 2025 (BSS) – Experts at a seminar today laid emphasis on ensuring decentralization for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

They observed that inclusive dialogue is essential for strengthening local government institutions which is a cornerstone of governance reforms.

They made the observation at a seminar, titled “Can Bangladesh Develop Without Decentralising?– Some Lessons from East Asia and Thoughts on the Local Government Reform and Other Commissions’ Reports” hosted by the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh (PRI) at its conference room in the city, said a press release.

The seminar, which brought together policymakers, economists, and governance experts, was chaired by Dr. Khurshid Alam, Executive Director of PRI.

 Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Member of the National Consensus Commission and chief guest, questioned the true nature of the country's progress, asking, “We have developed, but have we truly progressed?”

He argued that political reform is indispensable to bringing positive change. But also warned that, “If politics continues to operate as a business rather than a public service, individuals with integrity will remain reluctant to enter the arena, that change will remain in paper, as usual.”

 He concluded by focusing on the principle of subsidiary, the idea that problems should be solved at the level closest to where they arise, as the guiding motto for decentralization in Bangladesh.

Dr. Ahmad Ahsan, Director, PRI, delivered the keynote presentation. Presenting findings from his research, he presented evidence that, de facto, Bangladesh may be the most centralized country in the world for its size, and that it would not be possible to sustain economic development under such a centralized structure. 

“While Bangladesh had made impressive progress in economic and human development, the weaknesses of local governments and the absence of local-level accountability were now leading to poor public services and a decline in education, health, water, sanitation, and basic infrastructure in both urban and rural areas in Bangladesh,” he added
He pointed out that improving these services and developing well-functioning cities and towns would require local governments that serve with accountability. 

Drawing on the lessons of how dynamic local Governments helped the rapid development of East Asia, he stressed that the design of decentralization, ensuring accountability and transparency through the use of performance indicators, and identifying the main tiers of local Government would be key to success. 

In this regard, he suggested that the 64 Districts of Bangladesh and the towns and cities should be regarded as the main hubs of decentralized governments because they could provide the technical capacity, be closer to the people, and be easier to coordinate.

Dr. Ahsan praised the work of the Local Government Reform Commission and endorsed many of its reform proposals, and in particular, their support for well-functioning Zila Parishads. 

However, he also suggested the Commission’s recommendations for the indirect election of the Chairperson of District and Upazila governments would weaken their powers. 

He also indicated that the proposal to have overlaying wards of three governments, as proposed by the LGRC, would create confusion and weaken accountability. 

The proposal to have Central Government administrative officials working in parallel with elected Local Governments could also deepen fragmentation in local government services, he added. 

Finally, Dr. Ahsan pointed out the detailed work that needed to be done in designing and implementing fiscal and administrative decentralization, financial management, and performance indicators monitoring systems.

Discussant Dr. M. Masrur Reaz, Chairman and CEO of the Policy Exchange of Bangladesh, highlighted that, “Economic activities in Bangladesh remain heavily concentrated in the Dhaka and Chattogram divisions, particularly within the metropolitan areas of these cities. This overconcentration leads to acute congestion in Dhaka, with traffic jams alone resulting in an estimated annual economic loss of US$ 4 billion.” 

He stressed the need to connect local governments with central government initiatives in a more coordinated and planned manner to reduce wastage and maximize public service delivery.

The seminar concluded with a lively question-and-answer session, followed by closing remarks from Dr. Khurshid Alam. 

The event provided a timely platform to revisit key reform proposals and reflect on the lessons Bangladesh can draw from international experiences to build a more inclusive and resilient development model.