Though Bangladesh has witnessed significant infrastructural development, there has been no real improvement in the quality of people’s lives, said Badiul Alam Majumdar, adding, “There is no alternative to decentralisation if we want true progress in the country.”
He made the remarks on Thursday while speaking at a seminar titled “Can Bangladesh develop without decentralising?” organised by the Policy Research Institute in the capital.
“Articles 59 and 60 of the constitution clearly outline the responsibilities, powers, and accountability of local government. Yet in practice, local bodies function under the control of the central administration, not the people.”
Commenting on the state of politics, he said, “Politics has turned into a business. Union Parishad chairmen now live in luxury apartments in Dhaka instead of staying among their people in the villages. That’s not how public service works.”
Reflecting on lessons from the post-COVID-19 period, he emphasised the power of grassroots mobilisation: “When the people are organised, they can solve their own problems. Our volunteers raised awareness and contributed selflessly across villages — that’s the real potential of Bangladesh.”
Badiul Alam further stated that development is not just about bridges, expressways, or power plants. Real development means improvements in education, healthcare, and social protection, areas where Bangladesh is falling behind.
He stressed the need for localised problem-solving to ensure accountability: “Problems must be solved where they arise, and solutions should be implemented at the local level to ensure responsibility.”
“True accountability can only be ensured through the people,” he concluded.
Other speakers at the seminar included Ahmad Ahsan, director of the Policy Research Institute, and Khurshid Alam, executive director.
