Vol. 12 No. 4 (2025)
Journal Space and Culture, India

Research

Beyond Governance: Political Consolidation and Community Engagement in Union Parishad Standing Committees, Bangladesh

Published 2025-03-29

  • Abdul Basit
    • ,
  • Dr. Mohammad Shafiqul Islam

Abdul Basit
Lecturer, Department of Public Administration, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

Dr. Mohammad Shafiqul Islam
Professor, Department of Public Administration, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Abstract

This study examines the operational functionality of Union Parishad (UP) Standing Committees (SCs) in Bangladesh, with a focus on their roles in local governance and political consolidation. This qualitative study purposively selected 48 participants, comprising representatives from the UP, government officials, NGO representatives, and SC members. Thematic analysis was employed for data interpretation, revealing that SCs, as governance mechanisms, were utilised as tools by the ruling political parties for consolidation, thereby sidestepping their intended roles of accountability and participation. Additionally, the study reveals that NGOs have shifted from capacity building to commercial pursuits and that a patron-client relationship hinders governance access for all classes, benefits certain groups, and silences critical voices. This study found significant differences between the procedures for forming and operating the UP SCs. Local government reforms should be implemented to enhance UP capacity, encourage opposition participation, and reduce the influence of parliamentary members, thereby improving SC performance.

Keywords

Local Government, Social Accountability, Political Consolidation, Union Parishad, Bangladesh

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Author Biography

Abdul Basit

Abdul Basit is a Lecturer in Public Administration at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Sylhet, Bangladesh. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from SUST and has contributed to research on governance, local government accountability, social development, and public health. His work includes studies on primary education reform, budgeting, and healthcare challenges. Previously, he worked with the Government of Bangladesh on research and evaluation projects. He has published on menstrual hygiene, community participation, and accountability, earning the Dean’s Award for academic excellence.

Dr. Mohammad Shafiqul Islam

Professor Dr. Md Shafiqul Islam is a senior faculty member in the Department of Public Administration at the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet, Bangladesh. He completed his MA (research) and PhD from Flinders University, South Australia. He contributed a significant number of research articles to national and international peer-reviewed journals. He also has experience in supervising Honours and Masters thesis students in different semesters of the Department of Public Administration, SUST.

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