Speakers at a CPD-CMI dialogue on “Local Government Financing: Global Experience and Local Reality” observed that the local government in Bangladesh must have proper devolution of authority to ensure transparency, good governance and accountability, instead of mere decentralisation of the central government.
The dialogue was jointly organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI), Norway, at the BRAC Centre Inn on 5 October 2013.
Mr H T Imam, Advisor for Public Administration Affairs to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Government of Bangladesh and Dr AMM Shawkat Ali, Former Advisor to the Caretaker Government, addressed the event as the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour, respectively.
Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow, CPD presented a keynote titled “The Unheard Voices: Citizen’s Perceptions on the State of Governance and Service Delivery in Municipalities (Pourashavas) and City Corporations in Bangladesh”.
Dr Odd-Helge Fjeldstad, Senior Researcher at CMI, also made a presentation on “Fiscal Decentralisation in Developing Countries: Challenges and Prospects.” Another presentation titled “Devolutionary Delusions? The Effect of Decentralization on Corruption” was made by CMI Senior Researcher Dr Arne Wiig.
Mr M Syeduzzaman, Member, CPD Board of Trustees and Former Finance Minister chaired the event while Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director, CPD delivered the welcome speech.
Professor Zarina Rahman Khan and Professor Akhter Hossain, Department of Public Administration, University of Dhaka; Professor Amirul Islam Chowdhury, School of Business, United International University; Ms Taleya Rehman, Founder Executive Director, Democracywatch; Mr Md Tofazzal Islam Chowdhury, Mayor, Nabiganj Pourashava, Habiganj; Mr Arup K Biswas, Development Analyst & Project Management Specialist addressed the event among others.
[box title=”Download the presentations“]Citizen’s Perceptions on the State of Governance and Service Delivery by Dr Debapriya Bhattachrya
Fiscal Decentralisation in Developing Countries: Challenges and Prospects by Dr Odd-Helge Fjeldstad
Devolutionary Delusions? The Effect of Decentralization on Corruption by Dr Arne Wiig
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