Peoples' participation and question of real autonomy of local government: Challenges of devolution

Devolutionary administration was mainly introduced at the local level in Bangladesh to ensure proper people's participation in the national decision-making process. This study aims to examine people's engagement and autonomy at the sub-district (Upazila) level of Bangladesh. Mixed research with a survey method has been used to identify people's engagement in local-level functions, decision-making, and sub-district autonomy. Qualitative data was obtained from people's representatives and officials in two Upazilas (Sylhet Sadar and Biswanath) under the Sylhet district, and quantitative data was acquired from beneficiaries. People participate in UZP activities indirectly through their elected representatives (83.10%) and have limited access to formulation, execution, and budgeting, as well as a poor feedback mechanism. Most responses were adverse about UZP's decision-making and financial autonomy. Inequality in service delivery, political pressure and bias, lack of people-oriented mechanisms, lack of accountability and transparency, lower autonomy in financial matters and decision-making of people's elected representatives, a centralized planning and budgeting system, etc., are the main challenges to making UZP autonomous and people-oriented. Implementing actual devolution of power at UZP by limiting central government influence and promoting civic awareness can increase people's involvement at the UZP in Bangladesh and boost its prosperity.