Bangladesh

The Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) generated a buzz across the country by holding a series of review workshops on "Upazila Parishad (UZP) Service Delivery Performance" aimed at strengthening the capacity of Upazila Parishad (UZP) to deliver quality services to the people.

Four review workshops were held in Khulna division while one each was held in Rajshahi and Sylhet. Chairmen, Vice-chairmen and Chief Executive Officers (previously UNOs) of all upazilas under different districts of the divisions took part in the workshops and made a set of recommendations to improve the service delivery of UZP.

A divisional-level review workshop on "UZP Service Delivery Performance" was held in Rajshahi on 2 September with Mr. Swapon Kumar Roy, Additional Divisional Commissioner, Rajshahi division, chairing the event. UZGP Project Manager Mr. Md. Oliullah was also present at the workshop.

Chairmen, Vice-chairmen and Chief Executive Officers (previously UNOs) of all upazilas under Rajshashi and Chapainawabganj districts, took part in the workshop and recommended for strengthening the UZP Standing Committees, review and redefining the roles and responsibilities of Upazila chairman, vice-chairman and Chief Executive Officer (previously UNO) in view of the changed legislation, and increasing the revenue income of UZP through exploring new sources and transfer 2 per cent of the total of land development tax collected at Upazila level to UZP.

Meanwhile, at a review workshop at Divisional Commissioner`s office of Khulna on 30 July, Chairmen, Vice-chairmen and Chief Executive Officers (previously UNOs) of different upazilas under Meherpur, Chuadanga, Narail, and Magura districts recommended that like Pourashava, City Corporation and Zilla Parishad, the UZP also should be allowed to run income generating projects and programmes and funds and functions of 17 departments already transferred to UZP need to be devolved.

At another review workshop on 29 July in Khulna for Jessore and Sathkhira districts, they recommended that dual-role of the Chief Executive Officer (previously UNO) at upazila level needs to be addressed in a pragmatic way as it creates problem rather than solving them.

Two review workshops were also held in Khulna on 23 July and 25 July respectively. Earlier on 17 July, a day-long divisional-level orientation workshop was also held in Khulna. Meanwhile, in Sylhet, a day-long divisional-level orientation workshop was held on 24 July while a three-day review workshop on "UZP Service Delivery Performance" was held on 17-19 July.