LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN BANGLADESH
Local Government is a governing system by which people of a certain area can easily get their fundamental rights, power and resources in a democratic way as well as they can establish their own responsibility and accountability in entire management of others issues as a citizen. In a ward can say local government is an autonomous institution formed by the locally elected people's representatives. When local government become strengthen and effective the foundation of democracy in a country become well-built, established participatory democracy and also the way of establishing good governance easily accessible through the active participation of mass people in all activities including the practice of transparency and accountability.

The Constitutional Mandate of Local Government in Bangladesh
The specific regulations about local government are mentioned in the article no. 9, 11, 59 and 60 of the constitutions:

Article 9: The state shall encourage local government institution composed of representatives of the areas concerned and in such institutions special representation shall be given, as far as possible, to peasants, workers and women.

Article 11: The republic shall be a democracy in which fundamental human rights and freedom and respect for the dignity and worth of the human person shall be guaranteed and in which effective participation by the people through their elected representatives in administration at all levels shall be ensured.

In the two articles, 59 and 60 in the 3rd section of 4th part of the constitution mentioning local administration and that is-

Article 59:
(1) Local Government in every administrative unit of the republic shall be entrusted to bodies, composed of person elected in accordance with law.

(2) Everybody such as is referred to in clause (1) shall, subject to this constitution and any other law, perform within the appropriate administrative unit such functions as shall be prescribed by act of parliament, Which may include functions relating to -
(a) Administration and the work of public officers;
(b) The maintenance of public order.
(c) The preparation and implementation of plans relating to public services and economic development.

Article 60: For the purpose of giving full effect to the provisions of article 59 Parliament shall, by law, confer powers of the local Government bodies referred to in that article, including power to impose taxes local purpose, to prepare their budgets and to maintain funds.

Tiers of Local Government
If we observe the present situation of Local Government in Bangladesh, there are mainly two types like; Rural and Urban. In rural local government system, in legally there are three tiers namely Union Parishad, Upazilla Parishad and Zilla Parishad. Currently only the Union Parishad is functioning effectively in rural local government system. In urban local government system, there are two tires exists and functioning namely Pouroshova and City Corporation.

Beside these the three Hill tract Districts (Rangamati, Bandarban, Khagrachhari) inhabited by indigenous people have three District Council and a Regional Council according to Peace Treaty 1997.

The Structural of Local Government Institutions
Union Parishad
At present Union Parishads are governed by the Local Government (Union Parishad) Ordinance, 1983. Each and every Union Parishad is divided into nine (9) Wards. One (1) general member (Male or female) from each ward and 1 female member are directly elected for a reserve seat consists of three wards according to the amendment in 1997. Beside this, Union Parishad chairman is also elected by direct voting. A Secretary recruited by the government for responsible to perform the administrative activities of Union Parishad.

Upazilla Parishad
According to Upazilla Parishad Law, 1998 Chairman of Upazilla Parishad will be elected through direct voting. All the Chairman of Union Parishads and Pourosova under a Upazilla will be the member of Upazilla Parishad. Reserve seats for women member of Upazilla Parishad among the Union Parishad Female members and Commissioners of Pourashava that number is one third of the total number of Union Parishad and Pourashava under the Upazilla. The Reserve seats for women member of Upazilla Parishad will be elected by the women representatives of concern UP and Pourashava under the Upazilla. Upazilla Nirbahi Officer will bear the responsibility as a secretary of the Upazilla Parishad.

Zilla Parishad
According to Zilla parishad law 2000, a Chairman, 15 members and 5 female members for reserved seat in Zilla parishad will be elected by the electoral college consist of the Mayor and Commissioner of City Corporation (if any), Chairman of Upazilla Parishad, Chairman and Commissioner of Pouroshova and Chairman and Members of Union Parishad under the district. The Government will recruit a Chief Executive Officer as the same rank of Deputy Secretary, a Secretary and other officials for Zilla Parishad.

Pouroshova
According to Pouroshova Ordinance, 1977 each and every Pouroshova have a Chairman and Ward Commissioners are elected by the direct voting of people under the Pourashava. Each and every Pouroshova will divided into nine (9) or more Wards determined by the government. According to the amendment of 1998 the Pourashava female Commissioners will be elected by the direct voting for a reserve seat, consist of three wards as like as Union Parishad female members are elected. Government can recruit a Secretary and one or more Chief Officers for Piuroshava.

City Corporation
Individual laws for each City Corporation are prevailed for the 6 city corporations of Bangladesh. On the basis of area of City Corporation Government selected wards are different in number from each other. A Mayor, a Commissioner in every single general ward and a woman member for a reserve seat consists of three wards is elected by direct voting.

UNION PARISHAD
Union parishad is the fundamental and essential tire of rural local government structure. Union Parishad is treated as the public institution as well as the first stair of democracy. As the nearest institution of common people the role and nature of Union Parishad is totally different than any other administrative unit. As a local institution, Union Parishad is the central point of all development activities of union. The common people are elected their desirable representatives through direct voting. Sometimes the chairmen and members of the Union Parishads cannot put up with their responsibilities and activities due to lack of proper communication and training. That's why the expectations of common people can not be reflected through Parishad's activities. But it can be realized that the certainity of interest and rights of common people has been preserved in Union Parishad as per its assigned activities.

Functions of Union Parishad
The defined activities of Union Parishad in the article No. 30, 31, 32 and 33 of Local Government (Union Parishad) Ordinance, 1983 are mentioned bellow-
a) Civic functions;
b) Police and Defense functions;
c) Revenue and administrative functions;
d) Development functions.

The Civic functions of Union Parishad (Article 30)
Union parishad has been given the liability of two types of civic functions. These are a)Mandatory functions and b) Optional functions. Beside these, Government can instruct all or a specific Union Parishad to perform any separate responsibilities. Government can also devolve them other responsibilities through any other prevailing law.

Mandatory Functions
Union Parishad have 10 Mandatory functions.
1. Maintenance of law & order and cooperate the administration in this regard;
2. Adoption of measures for preventing crime, disorder and smuggling;
3. Adoption of development schemes in the field of agriculture, tree plantation, fisheries & livestock, health, cottage industries, irrigation, communication etc.;
4. Promotion & expansion of family planning program;
5. Mobilize & development of local resources and ensure its proper utilization;
6. Protection and maintenance of public properties like: roads, bridges, culverts, embankments, canals, telephones, electricity etc.;
7. Review union level developmental activities of other agencies and provide necessary recommendations to the Upazilla Nirbahi Officer if required;
8. Motivating the common people to install and uses of sanitary latrine;
9. Registration of birth-death, blinds, beggars, and destitute;
10. Conduct all kind of census.

Optional Functions
Union Parishad have 38 optional functions.
1. Provision and maintenance of highways and public streets;
2. Provision and maintenance of all public places, open spaces, gardens and play grounds;
3. Lighting of highways, public streets and public places;
4. Plantation & preservation of trees in general and plantation & preservation of trees on highways, public streets and public places in particular.
5. Management and Maintenance of burning & burial grounds, graveyards, common meeting places and other common properties;
6. Provision and maintenance of accommodation for tourists;
7. Prevention and regulation of encroachments on highways, public streets and public places;
8. Prevention and abatement of nuisances in highways, public streets and public places; 9. Sanitation, conservancy and the adoption of other measures of rivers, forest etc. for the cleanliness of union;
10. Regulation of collection, removal and disposal of manure and streets sweeping;
11. Regulation offensive and dangerous trade;
12. Regulation of the disposal of carcasses of dead animal;
13. Regulation of the slaughter of animal;
14. Regulation of the erection and re-erection of buildings in the union;
15. Regulation of dangerous buildings and structures.
16. Provision and maintenance of wells, water pumps, tanks, ponds and other initiatives for water supply;
17. Regulation or prohibition of the watering cattle, bathing or washing at or near wells, ponds or other sources of water reserved for drinking purpose;
18. Prohibition of the use of water wells, ponds and other sources of water supply suspected to be dangerous to public health;
19. Adoption of measures for preventing the contamination of the source of drinking water;
20. Regulation or prohibition of the stepping of hemp, jute or other plants in or near ponds or other sources of water supply;
21. Regulation or prohibition of dying or tanning of skins within residential areas;
22. Regulation or prohibition to collect stone or other material by the excavation of earth within residential areas;
23. Regulation or prohibition of the establishment of brick Kilns, potteries and other Kilns within residential areas;
24. Voluntary registration of the sale of cattle and other animals;
25. Holding of fairs and exhibitions;
26. Celebration of public festivals;
27. Provision of relief measures in the event of any fire, flood, hail-storm, earthquake and other natural calamity;
28. Relief for the widows, orphans, poor and persons in distress;
29. Promotion of public games and sports;
30. Industrial and community development, inspired & promotion for development of cooperative movement and village industries;
31. Adoption of measures for excess food production;
32. Provision for environment management;
33. Provision for maintenance and regulation of cattle pounds;
34. Provision for primary & first-aid centers;
35. Provision of library and reading rooms;
36. Co-operation with other organizations those who are engaged in similar activities of Union Parishad.
37. Aid in the promotion of educational under the direction of the Deputy Commissioner. 38. Take any other measures to promote likely the welfare, health, safety, comfort or convenience of the inhabitants of the union or the visitors.

Police and Defense Functions of Union Parishads (Article 31)
. Government may establish a village police force including rules regulate their appointment, training and discipline and make the terms conditions of their services.
. District administration may order for arranging patrol in any village of the union through the participation of adult male inhabitants which will be maintained by Union Parishad.

Revenue & General Administrative Functions of Union Parishads (Article 32)
The responsibilities of UP chairmen are-
. Assist the village revenue officials to perform their duties for revenue generation and general administration;
. To render such assistance for preparation of records and provide information to conduct survey and crops monitoring;
. To notify the police about any type of destructive occurrences and notorious character and also help the police department for investigation of any occurrences and to arrested notorious character;
. To report near to the concern authority if any incident of damage or dispossessed is occurred of government resources like as road, land, building or properties.

Developmental responsibilities of Union Parishad(Article 33)
. Each and every Union Parishad will be responsible for agriculture, industry and social development activities of their union and bear the duties assigned by the line authority;
. Union Parishad should be performed their defined responsibilities for rural development.

Beside these, Union Parishad perform some judicial activities for resolving local level conflict
It is very distressful and expensive for the poor villagers to solicit their disputes in higher court for a long time. Considering the situation to get relief from distressful and burden of expenses of the poor people, government has assigned the Union Parishad to perform the judiciary process with some specific issues through village court in an ordinance in 1976. Union Parishad can solve some disputes in both the civil & criminal cases in accordance with some rules through village court.

Roles and Responsibilities of Union Parishad Chairman
Chairman is the key personnel of all functions of Parishads as the chief executive of the Union Parishad. Approval of Chairman is the mandatory for taking any decision in UP. S/he supervises all activities of the Parishad. Chairman is also responsible for civic, development, revenue and administrative functions. The elected members of different wards help the chairman to perform these responsibilities. The major responsibilities and duties of Union Parisad's Chairman are-
. Administrative functions;
. Conduct meeting of Union Parishad;
. Appointment of village police;
. Formation of committee and sub-committees;
. Mass-communication;
. Maintenance of law & order and adoption of measures for preventing crime;
. Protection and maintenance of health, agriculture, disaster etc.;
. Revenue and budgetary functions;
. Development functions;
. Judicial functions.

Besides above all the responsibilities, the chairman has also to perform other important activities.These are as; providing certificates, issuing ration card, selecting dealers, relief distribution, advising the patients to go health complex for treatment, prevention of the violence against women, controlling flood and epidemic, establishing cluster village, distributing khas land, identifying landless farmers etc.

Roles and Responsibilities of Union Parishad Members
Government has defined and dissimilated the main roles and responsibilities of the Union Parishad Members through a circular of Memo No.Proje-3/Misc.-14/2001/801 on dated 10.09.2002. According to the circular, the main roles and responsibilities of Members are given bellow:

Reserved Seats
. To play an active role in preventing abuse of women & children; protection of dowry, acid throwing and early marriage and ensuring marriage registration and taking necessary steps for welfare of women and children as chairperson of relevant committees;
. Play the advisory role in concern Ward level law & order maintenance committee and disaster management committee;
. To perform the role as chairmen of one-third standing committees and one-third of the total project implementation committees;
. To perform any other activities assigned by the government and Union Parishad;
. Besides these, according to Gram Sarker Law in 2003, play the role as an advisor of all Gram Sarker under her electoral constituency and taking prevention measures of violence against women, terrorism, stealing etc as well as assuring law & order situation including report to Union Parishad. (In 2008, the Government has already been abolished the Gram Sarker Law, 2003).

General Seats
. To form the Ward law & order controlling committee with the representation of local elite and different professionals from respective wards and play the role as chairman of the committee. The committee will inform the UP about crime, disorder, smuggling, offensive and dangerous business of respective wards.
. To arrange of fill up the form for registration of births, deaths, blinds, beggars, destitute, widows and orphans, poor disable by village police and preserve a copy her/himself and send another one to UP Chairman;
. To assist the concern authorities in conducting different census including population census;
. To form the Ward disaster committee with the representation of local elite and different professionals including youths from respective wards and play the role as chairman of the committee;
. To assist in regulation and prohibition of the stepping of hemp, jute or other plants in or near ponds or other sources of water supply, prohibition of dying or tanning of skins within residential areas and excavation of earth stone or other material, establishment of brick kilns, potteries & other kilns within the residential areas of respective ward;
. Assist the UP chairman to take any other measures to co-operate with other organizations activities at the respective ward and to promote the welfare, health, safety, comfort or convenience of the inhabitants of the union or the visitors;
. To perform any other activities assigned by the government and Union Parishad;
. Besides these, according to Gram Sarker Law in 2003, they have been assigned the role as chief of Gram Sarker in respective ward and prepare plan in priority basis to develop roads, culverts etc. as well as review the progress and financial expenses of the existing projects.

General and Reserved Seats
. Give recommendations to the Union Parishad to take development projects on increase the agricultural production, encourages the community to involve in different income generating project/activities in the respective ward;
. Prepare projects through encouraging and motivating people about the illiteracy eradication, promote family planning, public health and primary health care services. If those projects take up by Union Parishad, then they suppose to implement and assist Union Parishad for management of the primary health centre;
. Take necessary steps to preserve & maintenance of public assets like- Highways, public way, public place, open spaces, parks, play grounds, cemeteries, burning ghats, meting places, buildings, roads, pools, bridges, culverts, embankments, canals, telephones, electricity, gas etc;
. Inspires the people for installation and usage of sanitary latrine;
. Promotion of games and sports facilities, establish libraries and celebrating national festivals and also give assistance & encourages the people in respective ward for physical exercises and organize cultural events;
. Will make aware of the respective ward people about natural calamities;
. For management of the respective ward environment, will take necessary mesures to collect and removal of wastes, garbage and carcasses from roads and streets, maintenance of wells, water pumps, tanks, pond, disposal of carcasses of dead animal & slaughter of animal including the regulation of dangerous buildings and construction of unplanned buildings;
. Provision and maintenance of wells, water pumps, tanks, ponds, other water works supply sources and adoption of measures for preventing the contamination of the drinking water;
. Bear the responsibilities for functioning of the UP Standing Committees;
. Assist to implement the primary and adult education programs in respective ward;
. Encourages the people of respective ward for sending their school going children in primary school;
. Encourages and motivate the people of respective ward to pay taxes, rates & fees and assist Union Parishad for maintenance & regulation of cattle pounds.

Roles & Responsibilities of Union Parishad Secretary
Office management of Union Parishad as well as maintaining all administrative functions are accomplished by the UP Secretary. S/he performs different duties including prepare budget and preparation of project plan. The major responsibilities of UP Secretary are listed below:
. Preserve all records;
. Office management of Union Parishad;
. Letter receive and delivery on behalf of Union Parishad;
. Collect all kind of taxes, tolls, fees and other dues of Union Parishad;
. Keeping the books & accounts of Union Parishad;
. Bear the responsibilities of preserve the Union Parishad resources;
. Perform other duties assigned by the Union Parishad or concerned authority;
. Perform the role as chief monitor of RMP activities.

STANDING COMMITTEES OF UNION PARISHAD
To accomplish the Union Parishad activities properly and preparation & implementation of development plan with the participation of local people, Union Parishad is empowered to form standing committees or additional standing committees. The advantage of standing committees formation are, in general sense a committee is able to perform any specific activity and also a committee can concentrate about the matter with special attention which is not possible in general meeting of Union Parishad, moreover it helps to take decision on the issue of Union Parishad general meeting.

Rules for Formation of Standing Committee
For decentralizing the activities and solve the problems properly, each and every Union Parishad may consists standing committee of such number of members and other co-opted members that will perform those activities prescribed by regulations. It has been mentioned in section 38 of Local Government (Union Parishad) Ordinance, 1983 that the Union Parishad may constitute any committee with the prior approval of concern authority (Deputy Commissioner). According to the amendment of 1993, Union Parishad may constitute standing committees and additional standing committees if required. Standing committees and additional standing committees will have to perform those responsibilities which will be defined by the regulations or Parishad. Rules of standing committees as follows:
. Standing committee shall consist of such number of members and other co-opted members as may be determined by the Union Parishad;
. The Union Parishad may constitute additional standing committees with the prior approval of Deputy Commissioner if required;
. Each and every standing committee shall slect one chairman and one vice chairman among its members excluding co-opt members;
. Provided that one-fourth of the total number of the standing committees' shall be the chair amongst the female members elected in reserved seats as their position. Here mentioned that if the aforesaid number cannot be filled in by a member of reserved seats for any reason whatsoever, the vice chairman of that standing committee shall be filled in by the female member of reserved seat.
. Union Parishad may co-opt a person as a member of the standing committee from community those who are capable to contribute by giving opinion for decision making process but they have no voting power;
. According to the memorandum No. ProJE-3/Misc.-14/2001/801 one third member of each and every standing committee will be the female member of reserved seats. One third committees' chairperson will be the female member of reserved seats of total number of the committees. Union Parishad Chairman will be the chairman of finance and establishment satnding committee.

Importance of Standing Committee
. The Committee can concentrate on specific issues and can find out the root causes of problems with appropriate solution by exchange their experiences, ideas and information through group discussion;
. Organization chief i.e. chairman of Union Parishad can get opportunity to expose their democratic norms through conveying the suggestions or opinion of the committee members in decision making and people participation become more ensured.
. Decreased the work load of UP chairman is and can pay more attention as well as time in other important issues.

Functions of Standing Committees
According to Local Government (Union Parishad) Ordinance, 1983 Parishad will define the task of standing committee/additional standing committee/committees and also give necessary instructions about that matter at every so often. However, in very recent the local government division of ministry of MLGRD&C has been defined the Union Parishad Standing Committees activities through a circular memo no: Sthanion Sarker Bivag/Union Parishad/Circular-01/2007/438 on dated 08 April 2008. So, all the Union Parishad would follow this circular for functioning of the standing committees.

Duties and Responsibilities
Standing Committee will do the work as per the functions of Standing Committees which prescribed in above mentioned circular. Committee will reportable to the Union Parishad for their activities.

Maintain/Preserve the Resolution Book
It is must to record the decisions of standing committees in particular book/register and Union Parishad chairman will sign this record for approval. Decision Approval The proceedings of standing committees must be approved by general meeting of Union Parishad.

Meeting
Standing committees can be arranged meeting in any suitable time and place.

Quorum
One third of the total members of a committee is essential to organize meeting which is not less than two.

Decision make by the vote of majority
Decisions of standing committees will accept by the vote of majority members. If necessary, Chairperson of a standing committee will give vote in second time/casting vote to finalize the decision. It is mentioned that, any member could not participate in that relevant meeting those who have self interest there.

Role of UP Secretary
UP Secretary is the key person to preserve all documents of UP standing committee/additional standing committee/committee's.

Functions of Union Parishad Standing Committees
According to the section 38 of Local Government (Union Parishad) Ordinance, 1983 the government has given authority to Union Parishad that the first meeting of each year or as soon as possible it will form standing committees/additional standing committees but there were no defined activities of the committees. Though it was mentioned in the ordinance that, the standing committees/additional standing committees will have to perform those responsibilities which will be defined by the Parishad. So that, the standing committees were not functioning in most of the unions. From the inception, WAVE foundation and Governance Coalition have taken different advocacy initiative for strong local government system and they have a priority advocacy issue was to ensure the formation & functioning of all standing committees with peoples participation including defined activities and allowcate the budget. Organized sharing meeting with National Institute of Local Government-NILG in this regard. In very recent the govrernment that means the local government division of MLGRD&C recognized its importancy and defined the activities of all Union Parishad Standing Committees through a circular memo no.Local Govt. Division/UP/Circular-01/2007/437 on dated 08 April, 2008. The circular and the defined activities are stated below:

Subject: Activities of Union Parishad Standing Committees
According to the section 38 of Local Government (Union Parishad) Ordinance, 1983 there was a provision to form 13 standing committees. The standing committees were not functioning in most of the unions as there were no defined activities of the committees. The government is committed for strengthening local government. In the meantime GoB formed committee submitted their report to the government with specific recommendations. As the part of continuous process, the government has defined the activities of those standing committees menmtioned in section 38 of Local Government (Union Parishad) Ordinance, 1983 for accomplish the Union Parishad activities properly. All the Union Parishad would follow this circular for functioning of the standing committees untill further any instruction from the government. The defined activities of standing committees are as follows:

1. Finance and Establishment Committee
a) Assist the Union Parishad for preparing annual budget through peoples participation and publish to the community;
b) Assist Union Parishad and taking substantial steps to define & collection of taxes, revenue, fees etc. according to government rules;
c) Assist the Union Parishad for preparing multi year plan through participation of government & non government development organizations' representatives and the community people;
d) To ensure for taking annual development schemes based on community demands and multi year plan;
e) Assist Union Parishad for preparation of finance and establishment related reports.

2. Education and Mass Education Committee
a) Develop strategies in coordination with local education officer's and educational institutions for exercise their duties to implement the national education policy by the Union Parishad;
b) Assist Union Parishad to prepare and approval of education related projects;
c) Through Union Parishad it is needed to give suggestions to the concern department for taking necessary measures through find-out the root causes of children drop-out from school;
d) Assist the School Management Committee for implementation of national education policy and create eabling quality education environment at the primary level;
e) Assist the Union Parishad for inspiration of the community to increase the women literacy rate;
f) Inspire the community for increasing the literacy rate;
g) Assist Union Parishad to organize awareness raising campaign events with the assistance of concern department for increasing the literacy rate;
h) Visit educational institutions to justify the quality of education and suggest for taking necessary steps;
i) Inform Union Parishad about all kinds of educational information and to assist the concern
j) department for preparing the informative reports in this regard;
k) Assist the Union Parishad to celebrate the national education day, mass education day etc. union level;
l) Encourages the people to eliminate illiteracy for implementing the government supported initiatives;
m) Assist and coordinate with the NGOs' activities those who are involve for elimination of illiteracy in the union parishad.

3. Health, Family Planning and Epidemic Control Committee
a) Informed the community about the services and facilities of the health centres (Government/Non-Government) and monitor the services of all service delivery institutions;
b) Take initiatives to increase UPs fund for providing primary health services of the hard core poor specially for the women;
c) Ensure necessary services by the health & family welfare staff as per demands of the people in the union;
d) Assist the Union Parishad to prepare health & family planning related projects;
e) Assist the Union Parishad to prepare the annual report on health & family planning activities and submit to the concern;
f) Assist to increase the awareness of the people on primary health care and vaccination and publicity of the government initiatives;
g) Work in collaboration with all institutions those who works for improving the health services.

4. Audit and Accounts Committee
a) To review and oversee the all documents related to regular purchase of UP, taxes, revenues, TR, Kabikha and other income sources and financial transaction;
b) Conduct half-yearly audit on all financial related activities of Union Parishad and give necessary suggestions;
c) Assist to prepare and present a financial report in the Union Parishad meeting on project implemention by the PIC;
d) Assist the Union Parishad for establishing a process of effective financial management systems;
e) Inform the Union Parishad on audit & finance related issues in quarterly basis;
f) Suggest Union Parishad to hanging the yearly status of income and expenditure in parishad notice board to know the people and ensure its implementation by community cooperation.

5. Agriculture and Other developmental committee
a) Assist Union Parishad through coordination and cooperation with concern department for improving agricultural activities;
b) Informed and submit reports to Union Parishad on agricultural related activities done by the Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer (Ex. Block Supervisor) or Agriculture staff work at union level;
c) Coordination with the concern department for getting services according to the people's demand;
d) Take initiative to organize need based training for the farmers and awareness raising publicity on agriculture related issues with the assistance of agriculture department;
e) Establish Union Agriculture Counseling Centre and encourage the farmers to participate in counseling;
f) Collect all information regarding agriculture and take measures to preserve in Union Parishad accordingly;
g) Agriculture related information send to Union Parishad for discuss in the regular monthly meeting;
h) Arrange a regular interacting meeting with the farmers to know their problems, take necessary steps to solve those with the assistance of concern department and assist Union Parishad for taking agriculture related projects considering the farmers demand.

6. Committee of Social Welfare and Community Centre
a) Conscious the people on demerits of early marriage, polygamy, dowry, women violence, acid violence etc and aware them to protect those and coordinate with the Women Violence Protect Committee;
b) Review the progress of record keeping on birth & death register and ensure the birth & death registration;
c) Assist Union Parishad to prepare & preserve the list of bigger, disabled & helpless people and also give assistance & suggest Union Parishad to increase the local fund for help them;
d) Encourages the community people for assisting the various social welfare and nation building activities.

7. Cottage Industries and Cooperatives Committee
a) Prepare a household socio-economic survey report and develop a project for self-employment or income generation activities by form the group/samity in consist of poor & low income capable men and women;
b) Assist Union Parishad to prepare a planning for practical based income generating initiatives on cottage industries and co-operatives involving community people;
c) Coordinate and communicate with the government and non government organizations to implement the work plan;
d) Assist Union Parishad and other concern for marketing the products from income generating project;
e) Encourages the community to form co-operative groups/samity;
f) Know the problems through participate in the co-operative meetings and take necessary steps to solve those;
g) Arrange a training for the concern to build the cottage industries and its development with the assistance of government and non government organizations;
h) Assist and encourages the Union Parishad for raising fund to take income generating & self-employment projects for the unemployed and destitute.

8. Law and Order Committee
a) Takes some realistic steps through Gram Police for controlling the village level law & order situation;
b) Controlling the law & order situation with the help of Ansar VDP members or form a separate volunteer group as night guards if necessary;
c) Coordinate the activities of Ansar VDP;
d) Identify the problems regarding union level law & order situation and sharing in UP monthly meeting with recommendations;
e) Prepare bi-monthly report on law & order situation and submit to Union Parishad and Office-in-charge of police station;
f) Communicate with the concern authority to organize training for Gram Police to increase their skills.

9. Women and Children Welfare, Culture and Sports Committee
a) Assist to create job opportunity for the women in the lnion level projects;
b) Motivate and aware the community for stopping child labor;
c) Assist and inspire the Union Parishad to celebrate the women & children related national days;
d) Coordinate with the concern committee to protect the violence against women & children and have to take community awareness raising initiatives;
e) Coordinate with the concern committee to stop the trafficking of women & children and have to take community awareness raising initiatives on it;
f) Assist and coordinate with the concern government & non-government organizations those who are working for the welfare of women and children;
g) Take various programs for welfare of women and children, observe the implementation of the women rights and inform Union Parishad on it.

10. Fisheries and Livestock Committee
a) Assist and encourage the Union Parishad to make useable the union level unused ponds and water bodies for increasing the income of Union Parishad;
b) Suggest the Union Parishad to re-excavate the common using reserve ponds through own management or co-operative associations and fish culture as income generating project;
c) Motivate the Union Parishad to fish culture in the open water bodies with the assistance of concern department through co-operative associations;
d) Motivate the community to fish culture by the re-excavation of unused ponds and arrange training for the concern people with the assistance of fishery department;
e) Observe the activities of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry department that the people have got their assistance as per demand;
f) Motivate the community to establish commercial farm of poultry, live-stock or fish culture;
g) Assist and suggest the Union Parishad to establish cooperative based farm of fishery, poultry and live-stock as an income generating activities of Union Parishad.

11. Conservation of Environment and Tree Plantation Committee
a) Encouraging the community for social forestation and tree plantation;
b) Take necessary steps for protecting tree from cutting and social deforestation;
c) Providing necessary support for plantation in besides the road by local initiatives and protect trees planted by the concern department;
d) Arrange awareness raising program on importance of trees for protect the environment and benefit of tree plantation;
e) Involve the local destitute, landless and poor people as a beneficiary of the social forestation;
f) Ensure appropriate protection of tree by the formation committee with the beneficiary groups.
g) Assist to arrange national tree plantation day and arrange motivational program with the assistance of Union Parishad for tree plantation and environment protection;
h) Assist and coordinate with the union level government & non-government organizations for tree plantation and improve the environment;
i) Motivate the community to establish nursery and suggest Union Parishad to establish Union Nursery as income generation program;
j) Inform Union Parishad regarding tree plantation.

12. Union Public Works Committee
a) Assist and suggest the Union Parishad to make priority based projects plan for developing the rural roads, bridges, culverts etc.;
b) Assist the Union Parishad to review the progress of on going projects;
c) Suggest the Union Parishad for construction and re-construction the water sanitation drain;
d) Assist the Union Parishad to build and maintenance of planned houses within the union;
e) Assist the Union Parishad to make plan for construct the irrigation drain for agriculture and other public works.

13. Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Committee
a) Motivate the people to use the pure water and sanitary latrine;
b) Make assurance the assistance of concern department to raise community awareness on arsenic contamination and to use arsenic free drinking water;
c) Make assurance the assistance of concern department for arsenic test of tube well in regular manner;
d) Assist the Union Parishad to make plan for source of water and sinking tube well according to community demand;
e) Make coordination between the government & non-government organizations for construction and supply of sanitary latrine;
f) Create community based mass awareness on using sanitary latrine;
g) Assist the community for getting safe drinking water and build a low cost sanitary latrine;
h) Assist the Union Parishad for implementing national program on Health & sanitation for all.

Each and Every Union Parishad should take necessary initiatives immediately to implement the above mentioned activities by the formation of defined 13 Standing Committees (Circulated By: Dr.Mst. Nazmanara Khanum-Deputy Secretary, Local Govt. Division, MLGRD&C on Dated 08 April, 2008)

Strategies for Functioning of Standing Committees
• Formation and reformation of all committees by the government rules to ensure the participation of all members in Union Parishad general meeting as soon as possible or from the beginning of the year and discussed the defined activities as well as inspired all members for functioning of all commitees;
• The committee formation/reformations meetings resolution with list dispass to the concern authority;
• To hang the committee list with name in UP notice/display board;
• To assure separate register/regulation of different committees and make necessary follow-up & counseling for updating and preservation;
• To make a plan for arranging meeting regularly and implementation accordingly;
• To discuss the standing committees decision in UP general meeting and make approval;
• To follow-up and present the important decisions from the approved decisions in UDCC and other important forum for implementing through the head of concerned institution.
• To build up effective communication between standing committee and local community based People's organizations or civil society.
• To sensitize for arranging lobbing and dialogue in Upazilla and District level stakeholders of the important issues of Standing Committee meeting as advocacy issue.
• To prepare report on the real successful initiatives by the standing committee and taking initiatives for publishing and broadcast through media.

By activating Standing Committee, General people can get the following facilities:
• General people could get clear concept about the activities of UP.
• Create opportunity for active participation of people in various activities of local government along with development planning.
• Public representatives get chance of accountability to the Standing Committee as well as community people about their activities.
• Public service provider is responsive to the people and UP for their activities.
• Women empowerment will be promoted and easier as there is a scope for increasing women

Planning:
To determine a framework or work-plan in a view to achieve goal is called Planning. Planning is the most important element of management. To take advance decision of future activities is called planning. The pre decision of when, how, by whom, how long and what sort of work will be done is planning for achieving the goal of an organization.

Participatory Planning:
Direct or indirect participation of people's is called Participatory planning. Create peoples partnership with development activities through participatory local planning, as a result they involved for the implementation of local development. People's participation is essential to ensure quality and sustainability of activities. Local means any kind of level from grassroots excluding centre, Such as - Union, Upazilla, District, Division etc.

Importance of people's participation in Local Government System:
• Project identification and project planning
• Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation
• opinion on project planning
• Judicial activities (Village Court, Arbitration Council)
• Different day observation
• Prepare list of distress people and distribution of relief
• Control of Law and order situation
• Mobilization and effective utilization of local resources
• Fixation of tax, collection and proper utilization
• Effective coordination with Government / non government service provider organizations
• Create awareness of the community people

Purposes of Project planning and implementation by Union Parishad:
People's participation in local government process carried importance. Peoples participation in local government system for sustainable development is present demand. For this reason many believes, democracy and local government is compliment to each other. In this regard direct indication on behalf of local or public administration has been given in our constitution clause- 9,11,59 & 60. But the reality is still now effective and autonomous local government system is absent. For this reason peoples participation in local government system is not ensured. The arena of Local government as well as
Union Parishad for people's participation are:

• Planning and implementation of project according to national policy.
• To give emphasis as per peoples' demand
• To ensure people's & public representatives participation in project planning and implementation.
• To maintain the mentioned responsibilities of Local Government Ordinance (UP)-1983 in a planned way.
• To Identify , collection and proper utilization of .Local resources
• To ensure local development.
• Proper utilization of local technology
• To create employment opportunity and under take project for poverty reduction

The Process of participatory budget in Union Parishad:
Budget means probable estimation of annual income and expenditure. According to the local government (UP) ordinance 1983 clause 47, Union Parishad will prepare a compulsory budget for the following year before starting the following financial year. Budget could be prepared considering overall development of the union Parishad. As because following areas will depends on an accurate budget-

. Development of Union Parishad
. Proper Financial Management.
. Amount of tax fixation and collection.
. Obtaining government donation.
. Characteristics, qualities of development project.

Proper budget preparation depends on skilled and experienced strategies. Besides this, If the budget prepared and implemented for over development of the union Parishad, then should be ensure people's participation during planning and preparation of budget. Following steps may be considered for the process of participatory budget:
. Union Parishad will collect peoples development oriented demand through meeting / gathering in each ward and villages (Motivate local people to pay tax during ward meeting)
. Draft budget will be prepared considering development demand and probable income on priority basis.
. Prepare draft budget and distribute at wards/villages in a view to implementation of the plan and will collect peoples' opinion through ward members
. Should be mention the probable government donation, local tax, and income and expenditure area and considering people's demand budget and implementation plan will be prepared in presence of all Union Parishad members.
. Should be arrange open budget discussion at Union Parishad with participation of local people in a particular day.
. To prepare a budget reflecting peoples opinion and hang up it openly through UP notice board and billboard for disseminating among local people.
. Union Parishad will take initiative to distribute at the different tier of administration and publish in news paper for approval of the final budget in right time( by 31 May)
. Union Parishad could publish the total budgeting system and could distribute at different level including the peoples of Union Parishad on the availability of Union Parishad fund.

Grass-Roots Judicial System: Village Court Through analyze the present judicial system of our country it would be observed that the entrance of our poor people in higher level judicial system is mostly limited. The poor people have no enough money to trial the case in court as well as it is also very difficult for them to run the case for a long time. Specially, it is the matter of lost money and harassment for the poor villagers with physical presence in district headquarter in regular interval. On the other hand, some petty disputes would not be trialed in session judge court. As a result, most of the people of our country are deprived from the right of getting proper justice. However, the village court and arbitration council can play an important role in resolving conflict at rural stage. To resolve the petty disputes within specific rules as part of mainstreaming judicial system, Union Parishads are empowered to perform the judiciary activities through village court and arbitration council ordinances. However, no sufficient financial & technical support provided to the Union Parishads for functioning of village court and arbitration council as per requirements. Though many limitations are exist but Village Court is the shelter of justice for the rural community of Bangladesh till date. Besides these legal judicial system in rural areas, there is another judicial practice called traditional salish in our rural area for a long time.

Legal Status of Village Court
The President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh declared village court ordinance on 20th August and 8 November in 1975. This ordinance No. 61 is published on 20th October, 1976 through the government announcement of special gazette No S.R.O.353-476 and effective from 1st November, 1976. The Union Parishads are empowered to perform the judiciary activities through the village court ordinance in 1976. The main purpose of the the village court is to easier and peaceful solution of the judicial judgment. Arbitration Council, section 20 of 1961 is replaced by the village court ordinance (LXI, 1976), which was mainly the re-judgment opinions with necessary correction of Arbitration Council. This is the first initiative of the country is establishing a formal court and considered as efficient, comparatively formal and empowered judicial unit at the grass-root level. According to ordinance village has an authority to conduct both the criminal and civil court in case of fine not more than taka five thousands. In latest, the Village Court Ordinance of 1976 is replaced with the Act No 19 in May, 2006. The new act/law is more or less same of the previous ordinance, but mainly changed the limitations of fine taka twenty five thousand instead of taka five thousand. Both the ordinances in 1976 and 2006 dentified the structure, conduction procedures, roles and responsibilities of union parishad and others are also more or less same.

Why Village Court
• To make easier and peaceful solution of the judicial judgment village court is introduced which would be minimized the extra barden of magistrate and sub judge court and poor people will get access to fair judgment by the as minimum as possible cost within short time. Sometimes the village court could not protect its dignity and image, because this court is conducted by the general people of the community and their elected Union Parishad representatives as well as lack of their impartial position in judgement. But in the legal point of view village court is fully a judicial court.

Formation of Village Court
A village court formed in consist of five members including the chairman (generally the chairman of Union Parishad will be the magistrate of the court) which nominated by the each of the parties of the disputes. One of the two members nominated by each party for the dispute must be a member of the concerned Union Parishad. If the chairman of the Union Parishad is unable to conduct the village court or the question of impartiality in this case, any member of Union Parishad can conduct the village court as a chair person (magistrate of the village court) by maintaining a procedures. If any one party fail to nominate their representatives within stipulated time then the village court can be formed automatically. If any party not to select the member of the Union Parishad as a nominee in this case party can be nominated any person with the permission of the Union Parishad chairman.

Village Court Jurisdictions
1. Village Court will be held within the union boundary where the offence or initiate the cause of the offence happened.
2. Village Court will be held within the union where the offence happened though the guilty person is the citizen of other union. In this case both the party can be nominated their representatives from their own union.

Power of Village Court
1. Village Court has no power to fine or conviction without refuse the notice or dishonors the village court. But village court can fine up to taka twenty five thousands (Tk. 25000/-) for any criminal offence of the guilty person.
2. In civil case, the Village Court have a power to compromise up to limit of demurrage taka twenty five thousand(Tk. 25000/-) or can be ordered to get position of the original land owner up to the same valuation of taka twenty five thousand (Tk. 25000/-). Procedures of Village Court Any party can submit their case to the Union Parishad chairman for proper judgment with fee of taka four for civil case and taka two for criminal case. The following information should be attached in the application
1. The name of the concerned Union Parishad where the application is submitted.
2. Name, address and identity of applicant.
3. Name of the union where offence has been occurred or the cause of the case started. 4. Nature and quantity of complain or claim with brief description.
5. Nature of solution as per applicant demands.
6. Applicant has to signature in written application.

It is mentioning that application will not be applicable against a mentaly disordered person. If the accusation seems false to the chairman, he/she may cancell the application. But in this process he has to return back application to the applicant with the written statment of cancelation.

Decision of the Village Court
• Decision must be declared publicly. It should be mentioned the ratio of decision by the judge in verdict. After declaration of verdict, a decree would be prepared in the form No-4.
• If the decisions have made in all concern or the ratio is 4:1 or in presence of four members 3:1 it will be the mandatory for the parties and there is no scope for appeal the case to higher court.
• If the decisions have made in the ratio of 3:2 in this case it will not be mandatory for the parties. Within thirty days of declaration, there is a scope for appeal to the magistrate court for criminal case and to the assistant judge court for the civil case.
• Village court would declared the decree or recovery the penalty but it not exceed six months. Establishment the order of village court Decree will be filed in the decree register by using form No-5. If the party failed to pay the penalty within the stipulated time, village court will send this decree to the Union Parishad chairman for next course of action. The Union Parishad chairman would collect the penalty and pay to the decree holder following the process of due tax collection. It is mentioned that if the village court gives a decree beside the financial penalty, chairman of the village court will send this decree to the sub judge for taking necessary action on it. The Sub judge will take necessary measures for implementation of the decree considering as its own court declaration.

Penalty of the Village Court
Without any reason of legality any person may guilty of an offence the following offence as dishonor the village court
• Dishonor the village court or any member of the court during conduction of village court
• To create any hindrance in court related activities.
• Disagree to answer of any legal question of the court.
• Failure to submit any document in spite of order from the court.
• Disagree to tell a truth or to take oath according to the court The Village Court can impose penalty to the guilty maximum of taka five hundred (Tk. 500/-) for all or any of the above mentioned offences. The Village Court can issue a notice for attendance or witness or submit any documents for the interest of judgment. Beside the legality, the village court can impose maximum of taka five hundred (Tk. 500/-) for disagree to attend the court or failure to submit the documents which is not confidential for the state after giving a speech in the court.

Penalty Recovery:
If the party would not pay the imposed penalty for dishonor the court or willingly refuge the legal notice, the Village Court would gave an order with recommendations mentioning the reference of the court for recovery the penalty to the concern magistrate of legal authority. The concern magistrate would take actions as considering its own court as per criminal case procedures to recovery the penalty which imposed to the guilty after receiving the recommendations from the chairman of Union Parishad. Recovered money of penalty will deposited in Union Parishad fund.

The cases which are not allowed in the Village Court
a) Incase of criminal litigation
If the accused person felt guilty by the other judicial court in previous.
b) Incase of civil litigation
• When involve any interest of underage
• Any Arbitration council held by the quarrel parties (Arbitration agreement signed)
• If the Government or local authority or any GoB officials are involve in the litigation.

Obstacles of the Village Court Activation
- Peoples are not informed about the services of village court and no special initiative taken by Union Parishad for activating village court.
- Lack of knowledge of UP representatives on concept of judgment process and rules of village court.
- Peoples and elected UP representatives think that the judgment of village court is not more effective.
- Till a rumer is exist in rural area that the judgement of village court is not fully impartial.
- Judgment process of village court does not maintain properly and regularly.
- Jurisdiction of judgment is small amount.
- Patronization of government is comparatively poor on direction of court by the rules.
- The role of concern authority is not forceful for the supervision of village court activities.

Benefit of the Community for Active Village Court
- People will get access to fair judgment by the as minimum as possible cost within short time.
- There is no scope to appoint advocate in village court, so that the poor people can be able to entrance easily in trail process.
- Though the trail system of village court is formal but its solution is friendly.
- While the village court system under law, but both the parties seems it as a social organization as well as believe the declaration of village court is a social decision.
- Social relationship is alive intact between conflicting both parties even then the declaration of village court which doesn't exist in the time of judgment in higher court or magistrate court or after declaration of verdict.
- The justices of village court are living locally, so that it is easy for them to implement the declaration.
- Village court has legal status; as a result the declaration of village court is acceptable in higher court.

The Strategies for Activation of Village Court
- For creating the opportunity of the common people entrance in the village court, to bring up the own responsibilities of UP Chairman, Members and Secretary accordingly.
- To set specific days and date (minimum one day in a week with specific date) for conducting village court regularly and publicity for giving information to people through different media.
- To assure the uses of necessary forms and formulate the village court as per rule.
- To assure the exercise of pronounce a judgment in open forum.
- To increase the people's faith on Village Court by the confirmation of judgment without any partiality
- To assure register maintain and to give notice to both the plaintiff and litigant in time by UP secretary.
- To confirm the infrastructural facilities (witness board or uses of red cloth) of village court.
- To prepare report on successful story about village court and initiate to publish and publicity in mass media.
- To motivate the people about the facilities of village court and to increase peoples participation in the process.
- To regular communicate and inspire the UP Chairman, Members and Secretary to regulate village court.

Arbitration Council (AC)
In 1961 the Conciliation Courts or Arbitration Council was established as a responsibility of the Union Parishads under the Conciliation Courts. Ordinance to deal with disputes under the personal law and those related to family affairs such as marriage, divorce and custody of children. This was to implement the Family Law Ordinance of 1961 through which the Union Parishads were to try complains and enforce its decisions.